In Steven Levitsky's book "How Democracies Die," a striking finding from a 2012 poll indicates that a significant majority of Mexicans, 71 percent, suspected the possibility of electoral fraud leading up to the presidential election. This statistic reflects deep-seated concerns about the integrity of the electoral process in Mexico, highlighting how public trust can be eroded by historical precedents and political instability.

The prevalence of such skepticism among voters suggests that when citizens feel uncertain about election fairness, it can undermine the democratic framework. Levitsky emphasizes the importance of transparent and credible elections as vital to maintaining faith in democratic institutions and processes.