Voters in Madrid, Spain, faced long wait times outside the Mexican Embassy on Sunday as they lined up to cast their ballots in the country's general elections. Some individuals reported waiting for more than eight hours, with one voter sharing that she had been in line for a staggering 11 hours. The frustration among voters was palpable, with many pointing fingers at Mexico's National Electoral Institute (INE) for the delays.
Lucia Rodriguez, a voter, expressed her concerns, stating, 'I don't think they (the Mexican Embassy) have the resources to hold this election here.' The INE responded to the situation by announcing that voters in line at the embassies in Madrid and Paris could now proceed to cast their votes. They clarified that the polls would close either after 1,500 votes were cast or once all registered voters had the opportunity to vote.
According to information available on the embassy's website, polling stations were scheduled to open at 8 a.m. local time in Madrid (2 a.m. ET Sunday). The unexpected delays and long queues outside the embassy underscored the challenges faced by Mexican citizens living abroad who were eager to participate in the electoral process.