‘No need to get consent of pols in pre-election surveys’

MANILA, Philippines - Independent pollster Pulse Asia sees no need to ask the permission of people included in their pre-election surveys before publicly disclosing the results of the poll.

Pulse Asia research director Ana Maria Tabunda issued the statement yesterday after Cavite Rep. Elpidio Barzaga called on survey firms to refrain from disclosing to the public the results of their political polls, especially if the possible candidates have not given their consent to be included in the surveys.

“Pulse Asia, like many survey organizations around the world, conducts pre-electoral surveys on its own, such as the March 2014 survey, a copy of the results of which was obtained by the media,” Tabunda said in an email to The STAR.

She said pre-election surveys allow academics to study factors that influence voting disposition.

“Pulse decides on the names to include in the list of possible candidates. Given the public persona of those included in our lists, their consent to be included is not required,” Tabunda said.