Final answer:
In nonpartisan elections, most voters rely on shortcuts like party identification, incumbency, retrospective voting, and prospective voting to make decisions. Voters may also use endorsements and opinions from lawmakers, constituents, or interest groups as cues.
Step-by-step explanation:
Most voters in nonpartisan elections tend to rely on a variety of cues to make their decisions. Due to the complex nature of the political environment and time constraints, voters often resort to these cues or heuristics as shortcuts. Party identification is a common heuristic; people may vote for the candidate associated with the political party that aligns with their political beliefs and ideology. For instance, Republican voters might favor candidates espousing smaller government and lower taxes. Additionally, voters might also consider incumbency, under the presumption that a candidate who has successfully held office in the past will continue to perform effectively. Political scientists also mention retrospective and prospective voting, where voters base their decisions on the past performance or future potential of a party or candidate, respectively.
Aside from party affiliation, voters in nonpartisan contests may also look for other voting cues, such as endorsements from trusted lawmakers, constituent opinions, or interest groups. If a straight-ticket voting option exists in a state, nonpartisan positions may not receive votes unless voters are reminded to cast their ballots for these specific seats. Thus, in this context, voters might need additional reminders to participate fully in nonpartisan sections of the ballot.