Comelec Examines Supreme Court Ruling on Election Surveys Compliance

The Commission on Elections (Comelec), led by Chairperson George Garcia, is actively reviewing a Supreme Court (SC) decision regarding the legality of election surveys. This review comes in the wake of the resumption of ballot printing for the upcoming May 12 elections, which had been halted due to Supreme Court orders affecting candidate lists. The focus of Comelec’s scrutiny is the Social Weather Stations (SWS) vs. Comelec case, where the SC upheld the legality of surveys but set specific guidelines that must be followed by private companies conducting them. Garcia emphasized that while surveys are not illegal, the critical issue is whether these companies adhere to the SC’s requirements, such as disclosing who conducted the survey, who funded it, the source of respondents, and the scientific methods employed. The Comelec is contemplating stricter regulations on surveys to prevent them from unduly influencing voters, as there is a concern that people might be swayed by survey results rather than making independent choices. Garcia clarified that the aim is not to ban surveys but to ensure compliance with the SC’s decision, thereby safeguarding the integrity of the electoral process.