Opinion Poll Freedom Monitor Published

Public opinion research association WAPOR has published results of its largest ever international study of Freedom to Publish Opinion Poll Results, and says that despite the continuing spread of polls, 'major governmental impediments to the free flow of public opinion surveys remain common'.

WAPOR (The World Association for Public Opinion Research) joined with the Public Opinion Programme at The University of Hong Kong (HKUPOP) to release the results of the fifth worldwide study on the subject - others were conducted in 1984, 1992, 1996 and 2002. The total of 85 different countries or regions taking part was a record, beating 78 in the 1996 study and 66 in 2002.

WAPOR found that 'more and more countries are conducting surveys in general and pre-election and
exit polls in particular', but noted that in 2012, 46% of countries had blackout periods during which pre-election poll results could not be published, with no overall improvement in the freedom to publish pre-election polls since the last study ten years ago. Of the 38 countries/regions that impose
an embargo on publishing poll results before an election, almost all (87%) enforce those
restrictions through government agencies or election administration offices (87%), with independent agencies and broadcast/press regulatory agencies involved in just a handful of cases.

The organisation promotes the right to conduct and publish polls in every country, and states in its constitution: 'Public opinion is a critical force in shaping and transforming society. Properly conducted and disseminated survey research provides the public with a tool to measure opinions and attitudes in order to allow its voices to be heard.'

More information can be found at http://wapor.unl.edu/freedom .

All articles 2006-23 written and edited by Mel Crowther and/or Nick Thomas, 2024- by Nick Thomas, unless otherwise stated.