SWS: 80% ARMM voters wary of cheating in 2010

MANILA, Philippines - Four out of five voters in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) remain wary of cheating in the 2010 polls, a survey by Social Weather Stations said. SWS said its survey also showed a little over four of five Filipinos who voted in the ARMM automated elections are hopeful that automation would improve the election process in 2010. "The December 2008 ARMM Post Election Survey found that four out of five (80 percent) voters in ARMM said there is a possibility (consisting of 58 percent some possibility and 22 percent big possibility) of cheating in the May 2010 elections even if the voting system is automated," SWS said in its website late Monday night. It added pessimism over the May 2010 elections is stronger in Marawi City, with 91 percent saying there will be some/big possibility of cheating despite automation, compared to other ARMM areas. But SWS also said 84 percent of those who voted in the August 2008 ARMM automated election believed automation would improve the quality of election process. It said this included 42 percent who said the elections would "definitely improve" and another 42 percent who said it would "probably improve." "The survey also found that consistent majorities were: (a) confident the 2008 ARMM automated election was free and fair, (b) agreed to replicate the voting system in the 2008 ARMM election in the May 2010 Presidential elections, and (c) believed that the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) is ready for it," SWS said. Optimism that automated elections will improve the quality of election process was higher in Sulu (94 percent) and Lanao del Sur (92 percent) compared to other areas. Also, three out of four voters (75 percent) in ARMM were confident (consisting of much more confident and somewhat more confident) that the 2008 ARMM automated election was free and fair. This sentiment was shared by 41 percent of adults nationwide and 47 percent in Mindanao, based on the SWS Special October 2008 Survey. Compared to other ARMM areas, confidence that the 2008 ARMM automated election was free and fair was stronger in Sulu (84 percent) and Lanao del Sur (80 percent). Nearly seven of 10 (69 percent) of voters in ARMM agree, - and only 8 percent disagree - that the new system of voting during the 2008 ARMM Elections should be replicated in the 2010 elections, for a net agreement of +61 (% agree minus % disagree). One fourth (24 percent) were undecided about this matter. Of the seven areas in ARMM, support for the automation of the 2010 elections was higher in Lanao del Sur (net agree +78) and Marawi City (net agree +74) compared to other areas. Nearly four out of five (78 percent) voters in ARMM said the Comelec is ready (consisting of 23 percent very ready and 55 percent somewhat ready) to use the system of voting implemented in ARMM for the presidential election in 2010. Belief that Comelec is ready to use the system of voting implemented in ARMM for the presidential election in 2010 is higher in Sulu (95 percent) compared to other areas. The SWS December 2008 ARMM Post Election Survey was conducted over December 7-14, 2008 using face-to-face interviews of 900 of those who voted in the August 11, 2008 ARMM automated election. Respondents were divided into random samples of 100 each in Basilan, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi, Lanao del Sur, Marawi City and Shariff Kabunsuan, and 300 in Maguindanao. Sampling error margins of ±10% for Basilan, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi, Lanao del Sur, Marawi City and Shariff Kabunsuan, and ±6% for Maguindanao applied to the survey. Area estimates were weighted by National Statistics Office medium-population projections for 2008 to obtain the national estimates. The items described in this release were commissioned by The Asia Foundation, SWS said. - GMANews.TV