An Assessment of the Electoral Quick Counts in the Philippines: A Study on the Perception of the Filipino Voting Population in the National Capital Region on the Importance, Credibility and Effectiveness of Citizen Quick Counts in the 2004 Election

Abstract

All in all, the researcher found out that even if the electoral quick counts are faced with so many issues attacking their credibility, the people still see them as a credible organization. The people still believe that what the quick counts are conducting are for them and that they perform a very important task during elections. The presence of independent citizen quick counts during elections make them secure that cheating can be avoided and the canvassing of ballots is continuous. Electoral quick counts are also a factor in a having a credible election, of course, however, this is not the only factor. Respondents agreed that the quick counts help in achieving a peaceful and orderly election. Electoral quick counts also help elections to be honest. This is because quick counts provide check and balance with the official results and serves as a point of comparison. Without electoral quick counts, there will be really a big difference, Election results cannot be checked if it is correct, since there will be no other groups to conduct another count. People will also have to wait for days before official results will be released. Moreover, if there were no quick counts, the media will have nothing to report to the people, thus the people are not assured that the canvassing of ballots is continuous. The effect of not having electoral quick counts is of course not felt; it will only be felt by the people if the groups stop doing their jobs. People will only appreciate its importance if all the groups conducting the quick counts are gone.