Pulse Asia: 56% of May 2010 voters needed an hour to vote

About 56 percent of the May 2010 voters who participated in a recent Pulse Asia survey needed an hour to complete the voting process— starting from their arrival at the precinct up to the application of the indelible ink on their fingers. The voting process, as defined in the Pulse Asia survey, included arriving at the precinct, falling in line, actual voting, and having indelible ink applied on the voter's finger. Meanwhile, about 26 percent of the voters needed more than two hours to vote, said Pulse Asia, a public opinion polling body. The survey, conducted July 1 to 11, is based on a multistage probability sample of 1,200 representative adults, 18 years old and above. Of those surveyed, a huge majority, 84%, voted in the May elections. The other important findings of the survey include: (1) The public assessment about the conduct of the May 2010 elections is generally positive. (2) Majority of survey respondents, 83%, did not receive any offer of money or material thing in exchange for their vote in the recent elections. This is higher than the July 2007 figure, 77%. (3) Half of those surveyed, 46%), know of people in their area who were unable to vote in the May 2010 elections. A small majority of them, 54%, attributes voters disenfranchisement in to the long lines in voting precincts. (4) For most Filipinos, 62%, the conduct of the elections contributes greatly to the promotion of Philippine democracy. (5) Nearly half of survey respondents, 49%, think that the most influential media practitioners in the country were fair in their coverage of the May 2010 elections. The survey showed that for most Filipinos, there was less cheating during the May 2010 elections compared to previous elections (66%). More credible elections Majority of those surveyed also thought that: (1) the results of the recent electoral exercise are more credible than those of past elections (72%); (2) The counting of votes done by the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) for senators, party-list groups, and local elective positions was faster now than in the past (89%); and (3) The canvassing of votes done by Congress for President and Vice-President was faster now compared to previous elections (90%). "All these sentiments are shared by small to overwhelming majorities across geographic areas (62% to 95%) and socio-economic classes (58% to 95%)," Pulse Asia said. Metro Manilans (81%) and those in Class ABC (81%) are more inclined to believe there was less cheating during the May 2010 elections compared to previous electoral exercises. Meanwhile, 17% of Filipinos feel that there was as much cheating during the May 2010 elections as in past elections while 11% say more cheating took place in May 2010 than in the previous electoral exercises. Only one out of every 20 Filipinos (5%) thinks the counting of votes in Congress and the COMELEC was either slower now or was no different from past elections. A huge majority of survey respondents (83%) did not receive any offer of money or material thing in exchange for their vote in the recent elections, the survey showed. Pulse Asia said this was slightly higher than the July 2007 figure (77%). In contrast, about two out of 10 survey respondents (16%) received such an offer. In Mindanao and the Visayas, around one in four (23% to 25%) reported being offered money or material thing in exchange for their vote. Most of the survey respondents who received such an offer accepted the offer of money or material thing (72%) while the rest (28%) did not. A small majority of those in Metro Manila (52%) rejected the offer. Disenfranchised voters The survey also showed practically half of those interviewed for this survey (46%) know of voters in their area who were unable to vote in the May 2010 elections. A small majority of them (54%) attributes voters disenfranchisement in their area to the long lines in voting precincts. "Most of those in Mindanao (55%) are aware of voters in their area who were unable to cast their ballot in the recent elections," Pulse Asia said. Half (50%) of those in Metro Manila and Class ABC know of disenfranchised voters in their area who failed to find their names in the voters’ lists. Majority of those in Mindanao (57% to 68%) cited both of these reasons to explain voter disenfranchisement in their area. Polls contributed to promotion of democracy The survey showed that for most Filipinos (62%), the conduct of previous elections in the country contributes greatly to the promotion of Philippine democracy. "The predominant public sentiment in all geographic areas (55% to 76%) and socio-economic groupings (61% to 67%) is that past elections help promote democracy in the country," it said. 'Influential' media practitioners were fair Nearly half of survey respondents (49%) think the most influential media practitioners in the country were fair in their coverage of the May 2010 elections. "Almost one in two survey respondents (49%) is of the view that media coverage of the recent elections was generally balanced. However, 21% believe otherwise and 29% are undecided on the issue," it said. –VVP, GMANews.TV