"It has been the most violent election in the history of our country," says Mexican opposition presidential candidate Xochitl Galvez as she leaves the polling station amid the general election. In a nation where politics, crime and corruption are closely entangled, ultra-violent drug cartels have gone to extreme lengths to ensure that their preferred candidates win. Hours before polls opened, a local candidate was murdered in a violent western state, authorities said, joining at least 25 other political hopefuls killed this election season, according to official figures. SOUNDBITE