The Effect of Political Competition on Spoiled Ballots in Mexico: An Econometric Model of Determinants

Resumen

This paper analyzes the determinants of spoiled ballots at Mexican municipal elections. We use a local elections data base from 2006-2008 to estimate an electoral behavior model in which local economic variables are included in quadratic form, so that non-linear effects can be considered. We found that an increase in the electoral margin is associated with an increase in the proportion of spoiled ballots Mexican local elections, the effect is highly statistically significant and stable across specifications.