Comelec: Survey firms must register, reveal funders

February 20, 2025 | 2:40pm

MANILA, Philippines — All organizations and individuals conducting pre-election surveys must now register with the Commission on Elections and disclose who commissioned their polls before publishing results. 

Polling organizations and individuals must pre-register with the poll body's political finance and affairs department using a standardized form that details their methodology, and funding sources, according to Comelec Resolution No. 11117, which was promulgated on Wednesday, February 19.

Those already conducting surveys have a 15-day grace period from the resolution's effectivity to complete their registration. Individuals or firms that fail to register within the prescribed timeframe will face suspension of their authority to conduct and publish election surveys.

Who does this resolution apply to?

It's not just polling firms that are covered by the poll body's new rules on pre-election surveys.

According to the resolution, the requirements also apply to "any person, whether natural or juridical, candidate, or organization that conducts and publicly disseminates an election survey."

What the resolution requires 

Besides registering with the Comelec, the new rules require groups or individuals conducting polls to essentially share their process for conducting the survey with the poll body. 

The resolution requires "poll companies or any entity conducting election surveys" to submit reports within five days of publishing survey results. These reports must include the survey period, methodology, number of respondents, sampling areas, specific questions asked, and margin of error.

These reports should also include the "name of the person, candidate, party or organization that commissioned or paid for the survey." This is information that the Comelec had already required in Resolution 9615, which it issued in 2013.

"If applicable, the total amount spent by candidates on such surveys must also be disclosed. The Commission may use this data to verify the candidate's reported expenses in the Statement of Contributions and Expenditures (SOCE)," the new resolution released on Wednesday stated.

Raw survey data must also be made available for inspection, copying and verification by Comelec, registered political parties, bona fide candidates, or Comelec-accredited citizen's arms.  

What counts as an election survey? The Comelec defines election surveys as "the measurement of opinions and perceptions of the voters as regards a candidate's popularity, qualifications, platforms or a matter of public discussion in relation to the election."

The Comelec will set up a verification system for surveys through its Education and Information Department. The poll body will also create a task force to "develop a dedicated public advisory system to promptly alert voters about potential fake surveys."

Disclosure of sponsors

The resolution also requires broadcast media providers to only publish election surveys if they include the name of the entity that conducted the survey, along with the names of persons, candidates, parties, or organizations that commissioned or paid for it.

This rule also applies to survey firms publishing their materials online on social media platforms.

What are the penalties?

Survey firms and media organizations face "strict penalties" for non-compliance, which may include fines, suspension of accreditation, or "legal action in cases of deliberate misrepresentation of survey data."

The resolution explicitly states that publishing pre-election surveys without the required disclosures is considered an election offense under Republic Act 9006 or the Fair Elections Act. 

How should reports be submitted?

Individuals or organizations must submit their reports by emailing [email protected] and [email protected]. 

The poll body will make the standardized registration template available for download on its official website within seven days of the resolution's publication.