Very satisfied

Comelec Commissioner Gregorio Larrazabal, Tita de Villa, national chair of the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting, and Smartmatic people were all beaming with pride in last Friday’s presentation by Mahar Mangahas of the Social Weather Stations findings on the people’s evaluation of the May 2010 election.

Sponsored by the The Asia Foundation, it was an extensive poll, consisting of five separate surveys – four before the elections and one after – among voters and members of the Board of Election Inspectors.

The result was an overwhelming satisfaction (three out of four Filipinos) over the results of the first automated nationwide elections in the country.

The survey compared the satisfaction of voters and workers to the 2007 elections, which was not automated.

In 2007, a mid-term election with Senate seats as the highest national positions to be filled, voters had 51 percent satisfaction, 32 percent dissatisfaction, and 35 percent undecided.

In the May 10 elections, voters’ satisfaction was 75 percent, with the dissatisfied reduced to 18 percent and undecided six percent.

Among poll workers, whose job was simplified and shortened by automation, 90 percent were satisfied with the May 10 elections. Only 7 percent was dissatisfied and 2 percent undecided.

Although the satisfaction among poll workers was quite high in 2007 (75 percent) 90 percent could be a reflection of ease by which the poll workers adapted to the automated system despite earlier apprehensions.

The survey asked voters immediately before election on what they think would be the accuracy of the vote counting machines and 33 percent were sure it would be more accurate. A substantial 47 percent were doubtful and 16 percent were pessimistic.

After the elections, 50 percent attested to the accuracy of the voting machine, the doubters were reduced to 37 percent and only nine remained unbelievers.

Trust in the vote counting machines was very high among poll workers after the elections. Eighty percent said the machines performed accurately. Only 19 percent harbored doubts and a measly point two percent remained unbelievers.

It’s not surprising then that among voters, 71 percent said the results of the May 10 elections which gave Benigno Aquino III and Jejomar Binay the presidency and vice-presidency, respectively, were “very believable” while 24 percent said “somewhat believable”. Only five percent said “somewhat unbelievable” and one per said “very unbelievable.”

Among poll workers 88 percent said the May 10 elections results were “very believable” and 12 percent said “somewhat believable”. Only point two percent said “somewhat unbelievable.” Same number said “very unbelievable.”

The number one problem encountered by voters (71 percent) was “very long lines.” Only 10 percent mentioned malfunctioning of the PCOS machines.

All in all both voters and poll workers said the May 10 elections was “markedly better than that of previous elections.”

The survey’s findings also reflected the sentiments of respondents that although the AES was accompanied by new types of problems for them, they were “pleased by it and favor its continued use in future elections.”

Larrazabal, pleased by the results, gave the credit to the “collective effort of the Filipino people.”

He said Comelec also conducted their own surveys where they asked people if they queued to be able to vote. Majority said “yes” and for several hours.

He said, “You were the ones who made the election successful.”