of my career. For this contagion and for his friendship, I'll always be thankful to Mr. De
Luca. Marcelo showed me the meaning of asking scientific questions. His insightful and
critic attitude towards any kind of reasoning initially triggered blames and recognitions
in identical proportions. Now, several years later, I can't help recognizing how useful
that approach has been. His careful management of data has been another substantive
legacy of my experience as his employee. In addition, many other colleagues deserve
some credit. Jorge Mayer, Andres Malamud, Marcelo Leiras, Maria Inès Tula, Carlos
Acuna, Ana Maria Mustapic, Alberto Fohrig, Franco Castiglioni and Luis Tonelli are just
a few of those that I'll be always thanking for their contributions.
During my fieldwork in Argentina, many people made my task exponentially
easier (and faster!). Alberto Dalla Via, Hernan Goncalves and Alejandra Lazzaro from
the National Electoral Courts generously gave me access to the stored ballots, which
have been the fuel of my thesis. Nora Toscano and her colleague Sandra will always be
remembered for their kindness, helpfulness and their fabulous job at keeping the paper
ballots secure and organized. The National Director of Elections, Alejandro Tullio, gave
me access to the archives of the Ministry, which let me gather priceless information
about municipal mayors. Veronica Chiarandini and Carmen have been the efficient
collaborators that made me maximize the amount of collected information while
minimizing my contact with the (abounding) dust. In Congress, I have to highlight the
uninterested help of Jorge Raul Fernandez. Jorge opened multiple Deputies' doors and
arranged interviews with the House's authorities with an amazing efficacy. Without his
support, my face-to-face contact with representatives would have been much scarcer.
Pablo Ava generously contacted me with officers at the province of Entre Rios, which
was in fact one of the best experiences of my fieldwork. Laura Valdemarca and Marcelo
Nazareno helped me find great research assistance at the province of Cordoba. Special
credit must be given to Jose Maria Perez Corti, the Secretary of the Provincial Courts,
who opened the doors of the archives of ballots. At the province of Santa Fe, I can't
forget the help of Avelino Lagos, the Secretary of the Provincicil Courts. Similar thanks
are earned by Vicente Fasano, from the Board of Elections of the province of Buenos
Aires. Diego Armesto, Mariana Massaccesi, Emiliano Sapag, Diego Martinez and Jorge