EIGHT out of 10 Filipinos trust the results of the midterm elections last May and the use of the automated polling system, the July 12 to 17 Tugon ng Masa survey of the OCTA Research showed.
The survey, which involved 1,200 adult respondents nationwide with a margin of error of ±3 percent, showed that three of four Filipinos also believe the Commission on Elections (Comelec) ensured a free, fair and credible poll last May.
OCTA Research said 83 percent expressed confidence that the official results were accurate and credible, while 4 percent distrust the outcome. Fourteen percent were undecided.
Majority across geographical locations (71 percent to 89 percent) and socio-economic classes (77 percent to 85 percent) trust the accuracy of the results.
The highest trust was in the Visayas at 89 percent, followed by Luzon at 85 percent, the National Capital Region (NCR) at 83 percent, and Mindanao at 71 percent.
It was also the highest among Class E (85 percent), followed by Class D (83 percent), and Class ABC (77 percent).
OCTA Research said 86 percent also expressed satisfaction with the automated polling system and vote counting, while 3 percent were dissatisfied. Ten percent were ambivalent.
It added that 83 percent said the counting in the last elections was faster now while 3 percent said it was slower. Eleven percent said it was as fast as before while one percent said it was as slow as before, and two percent were undecided.
The survey firm also said that Filipinos want the Comelec to focus on making sure that there is no cheating during elections at 79 percent, followed by making it easier for people to vote at 21 percent.
This was the majority sentiment across geographical locations (68 percent to 91 percent, 9 to 32 percent) and socio-economic classes (76 percent to 80 percent, 20 percent to 24 percent).
OCTA Research also found that 61 percent of Filipinos continue to trust election surveys while six percent distrusts election polls.
COMELEC REACTION
The Comelec welcomed the results of the survey conducted by OCTA Research while deflecting the credit to all stakeholders.
In an interview, Comelec chief George Garcia said they are delighted over the results, adding: “We are happy. We give praises to all the Comelec personnel, our partners, our countrymen… We are very happy. We are overjoyed over that matter.”
Despite this, the poll chief said they would rather focus on the remaining challenges and shortcomings seen through the survey.
Foremost of which, he pointed out, is the high number of undecided or ambivalent respondents in the OCTA survey, saying it shows the need to improve voter education activities.
“Voter education, if done extensively, is very expensive and will take a long time. Voter education should be done immediately after the elections. So, we hope everyone will help us,” said Garcia. – With Gerard Naval
