Mexico holding midterm elections following months of violence

MEXICO CITY, June 7 (UPI) -- Mexico is holding what could be its largest midterm elections ever on Sunday, following months of deadly political violence and ongoing frustration over government corruption.

More than 83 million Mexicans could cast votes, according to Mexico's National Electoral Institute. Ballots will be cast for 1,996 public servant positions, including for mayors, the governors of nine states and the 500 members of Mexico's lower house of Congress, the Chamber of Deputies.

There have been more than 21 political assassinations throughout Mexico since October, including the death of mayoral candidate Aidé Nava, who was found decapitated in March.

The political killings are assumed to be carried out by the influential and powerful drug cartels that have strained security forces, frightened the electorate and carved some parts of Mexico into places where cartels have more control than government.

In recent violence, explosive devices were thrown into a conservative party's office in the state of Guerrero.

In the state of Chiapas, a radical teachers' union attacked the offices of five political parties. The union's demands include improved pay and a suspension of new education reforms; threatening to boycott the election and to block voting if the government does not meet demands.

The National Electoral Institute warned that not all the ballot boxes in the four most dangerous states, Michoacan, Guerrero, Oaxaca and Chiapas, may be installed. The institute estimated to install about 150,000 ballot boxes throughout the country.

Corrupt government accrues to Mexico's problems and decreases the trust of citizens.

In one example, the decapitated body of journalist Moises Sanchez was found in January. Omar Cruz Reyes, the mayor of the town of Medellín, is believed to have carried out the murder. Cruz Reyes was impeached last month and his mayoral immunity was revoked, so he will now face court proceedings over the murder of Sanchez.

A lack of trust by Mexicans have often caused protests to turn violent. Tens of thousands of ballots have been burned by protesters in the states of Guerrero and Oaxaca.

But violence is not the only variable possibly affecting this election, allegations of vote buying persist.

Coinciding with the elections, the government of President Enrique Peña Nieto is giving 10 million digital televisions to Mexico's poorest citizens for free. The government argues the move is to bring all Mexicans into the digital age, while critics accuse the government of vote buying.

Nieto's ruling Institutional Revolutionary Party, which has dominated Mexican politics for more than 71 years, is expected to retain a majority in the lower house, but that does not mean drastic changes in the establishment are out of reach.

In 2012, Mexico changed its constitution to allow independent candidates to run for office, and in this year's elections, an independent candidate could win governorship in the state of Nuevo León.

Nicknamed "El Bronco," former mayor and rancher Jaime Rodríguez Calderón, 57, known for his battling demeanor, cursing rhetoric and cowboy hat and boots, could win as he has a strong showing in the polls, which could upset the status quo.