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Pulse Asia: Long ballot may affect senatorial bets' chances


The long ballot to be used in this year's automated elections may turn off voters - and affect the chances of some senatorial candidates. Pollster Pulse Asia said that 10.9% of Filipinos surveyed do not express support for any of the senatorial candidates for the May 2010 elections, much higher than 3.4% in December 2009. "(It is) possibly due to the use of a sample ballot listing 62 names for the senatorial race," it said in its website. Also, it said that support levels for several candidates declined in a survey where it used a sample ballot similar to the one to be used in the elections. 'Biggest drop recorded'for Sen. Santiago "Support levels for several senatorial candidates declined during this period, with the biggest drop being recorded by Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago (-10.2 percentage points), possibly due to the use of a sample ballot," it said. Others who experience a decline in voter preference between December 2009 and January 2010 are former Senate President Franklin Drilon (-5.2 percentage points), former Senator Francisco Tatad (-6.5 percentage points), lawyer Gwendolyn Pimentel (-6.5 percentage points), former Senator Sergio Osmeña III (-8.6 percentage points), former socio-economic planning secretary Ralph Recto (-8.7 percentage points), Bukidnon Rep. Teofisto Guingona III (-8.8 percentage points), and former Senator Vicente Sotto III (-9.7 percentage points). Ratings improve for Lapid and Baraquel Only two senatorial candidates enjoy improvements in their voter preference between December 2009 and January 2010: Lapid (+6.6 percentage points) and Akbayan Rep. Theresia Baraquel (+6.2 percentage points). "Baraquel, currently ranked 17th to 25th with an overall voter preference of 11.0%, appears to have benefited much from being included in this survey with the addition of 'Hontiveros' to her proffered name, an electoral privilege she had to gain from the Comelec," Pulse Asia said. Ballot conforms to Comelec sample For its latest survey, Pulse Asia used a ballot that it said conforms to the Comelec sample. Respondents were asked to indicate their preference on the ballot based on the instructions written. "Measuring 8 by 29 inches, the names of the candidates for the national posts were listed alphabetically as ordered in the official list released by the Comelec prior to this survey's field work," it said. - TJD, GMANews.TV

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