By a narrow majority of five votes, the full session of the Supreme Court of Justice of the Nation (SCJN) approved for the first time including photographs of candidates on electoral ballots. This unprecedented decision divided the ministers and generated intense debate over the principles of the electoral contest. The measure was driven by a proposal from Minister Giovanni Figueroa Mejía, who argued that including images of the contenders does not constitute electoral propaganda nor violate the principle of equity in the contest. Minister María Estela Ríos spoke out against it, warning that this measure could turn electoral processes into 'reality shows', making a particular comparison with the program 'La Casa de los Famosos'. Minister Lenia Batres Guadarrama agreed with the opposition, stating that adding photographs 'does violate the principle of equity in the contest and frivolizes the competition'. In contrast, President Minister Hugo Aguilar Ortiz defended the measure, arguing that 'including the image of a candidate could become a necessary element in this digital age'. The final vote reflected the division in the highest court: five votes in favor and four against. The proposal was based on recognizing the validity of Article 203 of the Electoral Code of Coahuila, which provides for this provision. During the discussion, the ministers expressed conflicting positions. Ministers Irving Espinosa Betanzo and Sara Ríos González joined the opposing stance. Faced with arguments about the violation of the principle of equity, the presiding minister Giovanni Figueroa Mejía responded with irony: if the candidates' faces violate that principle, then 'let the contenders campaign using masks'.
