The article examines the “moral economy” of electoral clientelism – the exchange of votes for goods – on the basis of qualitative interviews conducted in late 2000 in rural Mexico. Contrary to common assumptions about physical needs forcing the “poor and powerless” to trade their political rights for material favors, it finds that respondents reject clientelist practices, defend their individual autonomy, and demand universalistic policies. In democratic Mexico, the article concludes tentatively, attempted vote trading may be a widespread practice; yet an illegitimate one.