In a display of dedication and patience, thousands of Mexican nationals residing in Chicago turned up at the Mexican Consulate on South Ashland Avenue to cast their vote for the next president of Mexico. Many stood in line for more than 10 hours on Sunday, participating in the first election to allow in-person voting for citizens abroad in key locations such as the United States, Canada, and France, as reported by the Chicago Tribune.

The election marked a pivotal moment with voters set to elect the country's first woman president. Claudia Sheinbaum and Xóchitl Gálvez are the main contenders, representing the left-wing Morena party and the center-right National Action Party, respectively. However, the process proved to be a test of resilience for voters with only nine booths at the consulate and a limited 1,500 electronic ballots available for non-registered individuals who carried a valid voter ID. To accommodate the turnout, police had to eventually shut down parts of Ashland Avenue, according to a Block Club Chicago report.

Despite frustration over long wait times and insufficient resources, Mexican nationals expressed their determination to vote, many doing so for the first time. Edith Cortez, with roots in Guerrero, Mexico, refused to leave the line after over six hours, stating proudly, “This shows how hungry we are for a change in our country; we must unite, after all, we’ve been forced out of our country into the United States by former politicians,” she told the Chicago Tribune.

Jorge Mújica, an immigrant rights activist, accused Mexican officials of underestimating the turnout. "I believe they have absolutely tried to limit our numbers," Mújica claimed in an interview with Block Club Chicago. He had warned consulate officials about the potential for massive turnout, suggesting they would need chairs, tents, and other accommodations. The consulate's underpreparedness could not obscure the high stakes, as both presidential candidates have vowed to tackle national issues like gender-based violence and economic challenges, and the results would shape a precedent for the country.

For some voters like Juana Salgado and her son Carlos Salmeron, the effort was worthwhile after an eight-hour wait culminated in their participation in this historical moment. "We deserve it, we work hard," Salgado told the Chicago Tribune, expressing the pride of hopefully seeing a female president leading Mexico. The pair, among others, showcased the deep connections many Mexican nationals in Chicago maintain with their homeland, reinforced by the substantial remittances sent back to Mexico, which tallied over $63 billion in 2023.

As the polls closed at 7 p.m., many registered voters left empty-handed, with a last-minute scramble outside the consulate that dragged on long after voting was meant to end. Voices of disappointment mixed with hopes for change reverberated among the crowds, marking a close to an election day in Chicago that underscored the enduring ties and political influence of the Mexican diaspora.