MEXICAN ELECTIONS

The Issue: Citizens defied drug traffickers. Our View: It is a good
sign for the U.S.

Mexican citizens defied violent drug traffickers with a simple but
powerful act: Voting.

No matter whom they voted for, Mexicans cast ballots on Sunday in
favor of the rule of law, for honest government and for the peaceful
resolution of disputes.

The people not on the ballot - the drug traffickers and their hired
guns - tried to disrupt the voting with threats, violence and
intimidation. In the days before the election, one candidate for
governor was murdered and the government offered other candidates
bulletproof vests.

Turnout appeared lowest in border states where the drug violence is
greatest, but this was not a presidential election year, so fewer
voters were expected across the country.

Americans should care about these elections because Mexico is our
neighbor, most of the Latinos in the United States are of Mexican
descent, and we all have a stake in the future of Mexico.

Another reason to care is that the United States is involved in
Mexico's drug war. The violence in Mexico is most fierce along the
U.S. border because the traffickers are fighting over trade routes to
ship their illegal products to the biggest drug market on the planet.

The elections themselves didn't give a clear indication of Mexico's
future political direction. The major parties traded victories and
losses, and the results didn't change the balance of power.

When he took office in 2006, President Felipe Calderon determined that
the drug traffickers were not just criminals but a threat to national
security. He unleashed the military and sought closer cooperation with
the United States.

The Mexican government's war on the traffickers changed the rules of
the game for the illegal drug business, and the resulting disruption
has actually increased the number of casualties.

Despite the violence, those Mexicans who voted Sunday showed that they
are not going to let thugs and bullies run their country. That's good
for Mexico and for the United States.