MEXICANS REACT TO ELECTORAL FRAUD AND POLITICAL CORRUPTION - AN ASSESSMENT OF PUBLIC-OPINION AND VOTING-BEHAVIOR

Despite various electoral reforms enacted in Mexico between 1988 and 1 994, large numbers of Mexicans doubted the honesty of elections and th e general integrity of their country's policy making process. Such dou bts did not automatically lead, however, to support for opposition par ties that called for greater democratization. Rather, voter preference s were largely dependent on judgments about the opposition's viability and competence. Widespread suspicions about fraud and corruption in M exico did affect electoral outcomes by making it less likely that pote ntial opposition supporters turned out to vote. Data are drawn from se ven national public opinion surveys conducted in Mexico in 1986, 1988, 1991, 1994 (3 polls), and 1995. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All ri ghts reserved.