EIGHT of 10 Filipinos found the 2016 automated national elections successful and credible, according to an independent survey.
The survey, commissioned by private think tank Stratbase ADR Institute, also shows that a record 74 percent of Filipino respondents highly trust the results of the recent elections.
The survey was conducted by Pulse Asia on July 2 to 8 among 1,200 respondents nationwide.
On the question of whether they were satisfied or dissatisfied with the automated polling system or the counting of votes through vote counting machines, 81 percent said they were satisfied, 7 percent said they were dissatisfied and 12 percent gave a neutral response.
Meanwhile, 74 percent or nearly three of four Filipinos said they had a “big trust” in the 2016 elections and only 5 percent said they had “small or no trust.” Another 21 percent gave a neutral response.
This marked a record increase in Filipinos’ trust in automated polls, from just about half, or 52 percent, who said they trusted the 2010 and 2013 elections.
“The data show that Filipino voters have learned to adapt to automated elections and appreciate the convenience, speed and accuracy of the system,” said Claudette Guevarra, secretary general of election watchdog Democracy Watch.
“This is despite the so many changes that the Comelec had to accommodate,” Guevarra said.
Guevarra said the survey also proved that voters want to continue the automated elections despite what critics say. According to the Pulse Asia survey, 88 percent of Filipinos prefer the automated system in future elections. A measly 7 percent said no.
Stratbase ADRI president and Democracy Watch Lead Convenor Dindo Manhit, said the think tank commissioned the study as a part of its advocacy for free and transparent elections, which is a fundamental requisite for the legitimacy of democratic institutions.
“We wanted to probe into the experience of voters and how they compared the conduct of the 2013 and 2010 automated elections,” Manhit said.
“The facts show that Filipinos have accepted the automated election system as a credible technology,” Manhit said. “Though no system is perfect, the Comelec should use the data to further enhance the security and transparency of the system.”
Election watchdog Democracy Watch organized the briefing recently with Pulse Asia Chief Research Fellow Ana Tabunda presenting the findings, followed by reactions from Commission on Election Chairman Andres Bautista, Manhit, Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting chairperson Henrietta de Villa and Consortium on Electoral Reforms Chairman Ramon Casiple.