Election Surveys and their Influence on the Voting Public
By ayenacsi
@ayenacsi (910)
Philippines
February 3, 2010 9:07pm CST
Election surveys do have an influence on some voters, it can not be denied.
Some voters would rather cast their vote on a winning candidate as the surveys reflect, than on who they think will serve the country better, thinking that they would be wasting their one vote on a "losing" candidate. It can also influence a voter to be complacent and feel that his vote is not needed anymore, thinking that his presidential bet is a shoo-in, failing to cast his vote.
Let us think for a moment and realize that surveys are the public's opinion at that time and it can still change. True that the surveys have turned out right in the past elections but one can never really tell until all the ballots have been counted. Let us go and voice our opinions on the election date and may that vote be for the best presidential candidate our conscience dictates.
2 people like this
3 responses
@20021114476 (691)
• Philippines
4 Feb 10
We are not that sure of that observation yet. We sometimes even doubt the result of the election because of some who uses their connection just to win the race. Now, let's just say that a significant amount of voters do what you said they do. I can see that the problem lies on the spirit of the voters to stand firm on what they believe in. It is really important that we show that we really are not affected by these surveys. By the way, I am quite suspicious of the results of these surveys. Your observation about the relationship between the survey and the actual poll say may suggest that politicians actually induces it in their favor. I don't want to forget that sometimes there are two opposing results to these survey. Here is all that I can say and the rest is for the readers to judge.
@ayenacsi (910)
• Philippines
4 Feb 10
I think that surveys do have some credibility otherwise why do them in the first place? They do cost money and it is definitely important if you're part of the race. It still is information on how does one stand. But the surveys are not the election so candidates who are on the losing end still get to fight it out on the election day.
I think that I would just like to point out that hopefully voters would get wise and use their right to vote for the best candidate, not the winning candidate as the surveys reflect.
Thanks for your input...
@20021114476 (691)
• Philippines
5 Feb 10
About the voter being wise enough to vote the right one (for them), I also hope that. As for the credibility of the surveys, I didn't say that they are entirely unreliable. What I say is that there is a possibility that they (those who believe that they will win if the result of the survey affects the voters) can manipulate the results. We don't know what is happening on the background. I hope that I voiced my side clearly now.
@rsa101 (38166)
• Philippines
4 Feb 10
Surveys are a good gauge of things but if you don't believe in it then don't. But you are right about your observation that many people based their votes on the results of the survey rather than really think for themselves who is best to lead the country right now.
@ayenacsi (910)
• Philippines
4 Feb 10
Surveys let us not forget are done only with a sample, only a small percentage compared to the millions of actual voters. The candidates may put some weight on it to judge as to how much legwork they have yet to go to get their message across the voting public. And the public takes the survey results with a small doubt as to its accuracy but can still be inadvertently influenced by it. For me, I was really pissed that Erap made it to top 3 of the voter's choice, I thought what the ****?!
1 person likes this
@rsa101 (38166)
• Philippines
5 Feb 10
Yes that is true that is why I am not that keen on relying on it as basis for my vote. I am open to know the the results of the survey but I won't follow what it dictates. It may also be possible that the survey is paid for by the candidates themselves to boost their ranking.
