How do independent leaners typically vote compared to weak partisans?

Independent leaners typically vote in a way that closely aligns with partisans, which is why they are classified as "leaners." They often have a preference for one of the major political parties, even if they do not fully identify as partisans themselves. This means that their voting patterns can be quite similar to those of weak partisans, who also exhibit some allegiance to a party but may not feel as strongly tied to it as strong partisans do.

The behavior of independent leaners suggests that they are influenced by party affiliation and tend to vote for candidates from the party they lean towards, making their voting patterns fairly consistent with that party's positions and policies. This is different from independent voters, who do not have a consistent party affiliation and may swing between parties in different elections. Moreover, weak partisans also display some level of partisan identification, but may fluctuate in their support based on specific issues or candidates.

Therefore, the correct answer reflects the idea that independent leaners engage in voting behaviors that align closely with those of weak partisans, exhibiting a level of loyalty to a party without the full commitment of strong partisans.