The Ideology of Independent Voters and their Electoral Choice in the 2021 Federal Deputies’ Election

Abstract

This paper analyzes the political behavior of independent voters in the 2021 federal deputies’ election, emphasizing the way the ideological traits of independents guide their electoral choice in favor for and against the political parties. Findings show that independents with no ideological position and left-wing independents were more likely to cast a vote in favor of the Juntos Hacemos Historia electoral coalition, whereas right-wing independents were more likely to vote for the Va por México electoral coalition. Independents located in the ideological center split their vote between the two main parties. Furthermore, right-wing independents and center independents valued the economy and security more in their electoral choice, while left-wing independents and those with no ideological position were more concerned with the vaccination program against Covid-19. These findings represent a theoretical and empirical contribution to the research of partisan independence in Mexico.