The Sudan Consortium African and International Civil Society Action for Sudan Sudan Public Opinion Poll Results of the Election opinion Poll, in Khartoum, River Nile, Kassala, Northern Kordofan, Aljazeera and White Nile States June 2015 The data published in this poll was gathered by trusted partners in Sudan. Thanks go to Humanity United, without whose generous support this project would not have been possible.
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Sudan Public Opinion Poll Results of the Election opinion Poll, in … · 3 1. Introduction 1.1 Background This report includes the main results of the public opinion poll on the
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The Sudan Consortium African and International Civil Society Action for Sudan
Sudan Public Opinion Poll
Results of the Election opinion Poll, in Khartoum, River Nile, Kassala, Northern Kordofan, Aljazeera and
White Nile States
June 2015
The data published in this poll was gathered by trusted partners in Sudan.
Thanks go to Humanity United, without whose generous support this
1.1 Background This report includes the main results of the public opinion poll on the current election, 2015, in six out of Sudan’s 18 states. The opinion poll reflects the general public’s satisfaction with what the government of Sudan calls “the citizens’ constitutional rights” to choose their president and parliamentary representatives. The six states where this survey was carried out are Khartoum, River Nile, Kassala, Northern Kordofan, Aljazeera and White Nile states. The results were gathered in the field through direct structured interviews and covered all localities of the surveyed states. The sample size for the survey was determined by the accuracy, and degree of precision required for the survey estimates for each state and available resources. The interviews were carried out by 75 qualified young researchers managed by nine supervisors. The April 2015 elections took place against the backdrop of deep political polarization in the country. The polarization came as a result of 25 years of bad governance; with the headlines of war, oppression and poverty. The government ignored all calls and demands by opposition parties to postpone the elections until the national dialogue, which was declared by the president, is carried out and its outcomes are concluded. Nevertheless the ruling party pressed ahead with the election. The main opposition parties of the “National Consensus Forces” declared that they would be boycotting the elections, leaving only the ruling NCP and its satellites of small splinter groups from the two main parties (five Umma parties and four Democratic Unionist parties) to contest it. The African Union Commission (AUC) sent a pre-election assessment mission to Khartoum in early March 2015. The overall objective of the mission was “to consider the state of preparedness for the polls by all stakeholders and examine the context within which the election will take place, to ensure that they are held within the framework of the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance to which Sudan is a signatory”. The findings of this mission were published in a report a few days later. The report states that “the necessary conditions and environment for the holding of transparent, competitive, free and fair elections as agreed in the AU principles governing democratic elections have not been satisfied.” The report puts the blame squarely on the government: “The existing government’s security measures put substantial restrictions on freedom of expression, association and assembly and do not provide an environment for free participation in the electoral process.” The report recommended that “The planned elections be postponed and the national dialogue be prioritized. That will allow more time to for the creation of an enable environment for credible, transparent and competitive elections”. Through this project, the Sudan Consortium partners intended to address the issues of transparency, accountability and governance in Sudan. This opinion poll has created opportunity to better inform interested parties about the views of Sudanese citizens about the election process. In collecting people’s opinion on the elections, the project is trying to provide accurate information that helps analysts understand the dynamics of the elections and how the average individual perceives the election process. By raising awareness of what is going on across the local community, this project is hoped to contribute to establishing a foundation for civic education. Civil society organizations and all those who receive the results of this survey
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will benefit from this project by getting the “facts” about the opinions of the people in the six surveyed states about the elections, rather than “rumours”, “allegations”, “unsubstantiated claims” and “counter-claims”. Democracy as a concept is wider than the elections processes, and a well-informed public is essential for real democracy. Independent civil society, among other things, is vital for civic education, and needless to say that all this needs an enabling open and healthy public space, which can only exist where there is good governance. Civil society, as well as all other institutions, requires reliable information in order to be able to direct their energies more effectively. To reach the objective of a better informed civil society there must be a space for individuals to freely express their opinions and access to information for Sudanese citizens. To the contrary, freedom of expression and freedom of thought and opinion in Sudan are severely restricted. The government controls television, radio, print materials and all other media outlets. The only media outlet left for independent voices is online media, and even this suffers attacks such as hacking, and sometimes the internet is shut down. That being said, this does not mean dialogue on social topics cannot occur; independent voices find ways to express themselves; this project is one of these ways. The pre-elections questions that we asked the public are as follows:
1. Have you heard that there is a forthcoming election in April 2015? 2. Do you know the type of the coming election (Presidential, Parliamentary National,
state level)? 3. Do you know the candidates for the Presidential election? 4. Are you registered to vote in the election? 5. Did you vote in the previous election (2010)? 6. Are you planning to vote in this election? 7. Have you heard that some parties are boycotting the election? 8. Do you believe that this election will be free/honest/transparent?
1.2 Sample and Survey Methodology
a) Sample design The sample for the survey was designed to provide estimates on some key indicators at state level and mode of living for the six states (River Nile, Kassala, Khartoum, Aljazeera, White Nile, and Northern Kordofan). The targets for the survey includes households and members of individual households. Populations living in institutions and group quarters such as hospitals, military bases and prisons, were excluded from the sampling frame. The states constituted the main sampling domain and in each state a two-stage cluster sampling design was employed to draw the sample for the survey. The villages or quarters (in the case of urban areas) constituted the Primary Sampling Units (PSUs). The PSU represents the smallest area or administrative unit, which could be identified in the field with commonly recognized boundaries. The sampling frame for the six states was compiled using the list of villages and quarters and estimated number of households updated by the Central Bureau of Statistics on the basis of the updated frame from the 2008 population census. The six states clusters (PSUs)
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were distributed to urban and rural areas, proportional to the size of urban and rural households in each state. The urban and rural clusters in each of these states were selected randomly with probability of selection proportional to size (PPS). Table 1 and 2 shows the sample distribution by locality and mode of living and the response rate of households by state and mode of living. Table No. (1) Sample distribution by locality and mode of living
State Mode of living
Urban Rural Total
River Nile 257
716
973
Kassala 298
697
995
Khartoum 715
200
915
Aljazeera 175
812
987
White Nile 325
645
970
Northern Kordofan
150
774
924
Total 1,920
3,844
5,764
Table (2): Response rate of households by state and mode of living
State Mode of living
Urban Rural Total
Result of interview Result of interview Result of interview Interviewed Not
Fig. 1: Percentage distribution of population by gender and state
b) Sample size and sample selection procedures The sample size for the survey was determined by the accuracy and degree of precision required for the survey estimates for each state and available resources. It was judged that a minimum sample of 800 households would be necessary to make estimates/results with some degree of precision at the state level. Since a similar level of precision was required for the survey results from each state, it was decided to draw 40 clusters from each state and 25 households from each cluster (1,000 households per state). The sampling frame of villages/quarters was compiled separately for each state based on the best available population measures. In cases where a selected village/quarter could not be reached because of security or access problems, it was replaced by a neighbouring village/quarter in the sampling frame. A sample of 25 households was drawn from each selected cluster using the method of systematic random sampling and for each selected household the interview was conducted with one member selected randomly if his/her age is 18 years or over. The following equation was used to estimate the minimum sample size:
Confidence limits (95% confidence): Upper: r * (1 + RME) Lower: r * (1 - RME)
Sample size:
4 * r * (1-r) * deff n = ---------------------------------------------
(RME * r)2 * pb * Ave. Size * RR
Standard error (se): (r * RME) / 2
7491
4353
71
5064
269
5747
29
5036
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
River Nile Kassala Khartoum Jazeera White Nile NorthernKordofan
Total
Male Female
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INPUT VALUES
Parameter Value
Predicted value of indicator (in target/base population) r 0.4
Design effect deff 2
Relative margin of error at 95% confidence RME 0.1
Proportion of target/base population in total population pb 0.4
Average household size Ave. Size 5
Response rate RR 0.75
OUTPUT VALUES
Estimate Value
Predicted r 0.4
Confidence limits (at 95% confidence)
Upper 0.44
Lower 0.36
Number of households (Sample size): n 800
Standard error (se) 0.02
c) Training of data collectors Three four-day-training workshops were organized for 75 data collectors and nine supervisors. The training covered research methodology in general as well as interviewing techniques, how to ask questions and fill in the questionnaire. An additional day was reserved to conduct a pilot test of the questionnaire. The data collectors selected were either university students or recent graduates with an interest in social science and research. They come from the different localities of Khartoum and were representative of the country’s ethnic and socio-economic diversity. d) Ethics and consent procedure Selection of respondents in sample villages/quarters required official consultation with the authorities in those villages/quarters. After respondents were randomly selected in each of the sample villages/quarters, interviewers were then required to formally introduce themselves and the purpose of the interviews. During this introductory phase, the respondents were informed that all responses would be noted down but would be kept confidential at all times. Respondents were informed that they could choose whether or not to participate in the survey.
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e) Data entry and data analysis The data entry application was developed using Census and Survey Processing System (CSPro) software package. Five data entry operators (four females and one male) with previous experience on CSPro were recruited and were given refresher sessions on data entry/verification and data modification using actual survey data. After completing data entry for the seven localities of Khartoum state, the concatenated data file was edited to resolve inconsistencies and exported to SPSS for further analysis.
2. Polling results
2.1 Awareness of the election The figure below shows that 85% of the total respondents in the surveyed states were aware of the election. Kassala scored the highest percentage, where 95% of the people were aware of the election and the lowest is Northern Kordofan, where only 73% of the population were aware of the elections. Fig.2: Have you heard that there is a forthcoming election in April 2015?
Source: polling survey results
Although the percentage of awareness seems to be very high, particularly in Kassala, this does not confirm that the respondents actually understand what a democratic system is or the values
88 9580 86 86
7385
10.74.0
12.79.9 5.4
7.4
8.3
1.4 .8 7.1 4.3 9.019.2
6.8
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
River Nile Kassala Khartoum Jazeera White Nile NorthernKordofan
Total
Yes No Not Stated
Quote from an interviewed man from
Kassala: Yes I know about the election,
we discuss this issue every day in the
night gathering. Our sheikh (traditional
leader) told us to vote for the tree (the
NCP icon). Our current president is a
good man and we want him again. We
also have a candidate in our tribe from
the NCP and we will definitely support
him too.
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that comes with such a system. In some random interviews the surveyors had with many in Kassala State, people expressed that they knew about the election from their tribal leaders. However, the tribal leaders only speak of the NCP; implying that just because a respondent is aware of the election does not mean they are aware of the dynamics of the elections or the implications of electing a specific party/president. They hear about the elections from the radio, in the market and social events but their knowledge of the elections does not go beyond knowing of the election itself.
2.2 Knowledge about the type of the coming election
As the figure below indicated 47% of the total respondents in the six surveyed states know the type of this election. Again the highest percentage of the respondents is from Kassala followed by River Nile State with 66%, all respondents from other surveyed states who know the type of election are less than 50%.
Fig. 3: Do you know the type of the coming election (Presidential, Parliamentary
National, at state level)?
Source: polling survey results
The general trend reveals that the awareness and knowledge of the type of the election is directly proportional to the mode of living (urban, rural), level of education and age of the respondent (see annex 2, 3 and 4). In Kassala State, 60% of illiterates and 94% of respondents with a university level education and above were aware of the elections. The 60% reported by illiterates seems to be very high for an illiterate sample group. However, an explanation for this can be that illiterates know the fact, the fact being the different types of elections (Presidential, Parliamentary, National), but do not understand what the dynamics in the election types are, or the processes that are carried out in the different election types, compared to the 94% that most probably do understand the dynamics and processes in the three different election types.
66 70
42 42 3924
47
32 27
51 5452
56
45
19.7
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
River Nile Kassala Khartoum Jazeera White Nile NorthernKordofan
Total
Yes No Not Stated
Quote from an interviewed man from
Hamshcoreab in Kassala: we will give
the NCP our votes because we don’t want
trouble. In this area our tribal leaders will
not live us in peace if we don’t vote for the
NCP
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2.3 Election Candidates As the figure below indicates that the majority of the respondents (more than 50%) in five states (Khartoum, River Nile, White Nile, Aljazeera and Northern Kordofan) do not know that there are other candidates than the current president, except in Kassala State where the percentage of respondents who know that they are other candidates than the current president is 64%.
Fig. 4: Do you know other candidates than the current president for the Presidential election?
Source: polling survey results
2.4 Election Registration
The figure below shows that in River Nile and Kassala states the percentage of respondents who were registered is also much higher than other surveyed states (79% and 73% respectively). As it is mentioned above this does not confirm that the respondents actually understand what a democratic system is or the values that comes with such a system (this is particularly relevant for Kassala State). Obviously, we can see that in all surveyed states the people who participated in the previous election is much higher than the people who are planning to vote in this election (see figures 6 and 7), except the River Nile State where the percentage of people who are planning to vote is higher than the percentage of people who voted in the previous election. This is clearly justifiable, as it is observed from the surveyors that there is a massive campaign for the election (see the quote to the right).
46
64
3045
2514
38
48
33
6351
66
65
54
6.4 2.8 6.9 4.5 9.220.3
8.2
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
River Nile Kassala Khartoum Jazeera White Nile NorthernKordofan
Total
Yes No Not Stated
Quote from an interviewed man
from Abu Hamad in River Nile state:
We are working very hard to defeat
the NCP, we are fed up from this Party
[sic]. We get nothing from these
people, therefore we are giving our full
efforts to let our independent
candidate win. We cannot really
influence the Presidential election, but
we will at least let our independent
candidate win to represent us in the
Parliament.
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Fig. 5: Are you registered to vote for the election?
Source: polling survey results
. Figure 6: Did you vote in the previous election (2010)?
Source: polling survey results
79 73
41 46 4838
54
20 26
5250 43
51
39
1 1 7 4 9 11 7
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
River Nile Kassala Khartoum Jazeera White Nile NorthernKordofan
Total
Yes No Not Stated
7187
46
6654
4462
2812
46
3037
36
31
20
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
River Nile Kassala Khartoum Jazeera White Nile NorthernKordofan
Total
Yes No Not Stated
12
Fig. 7: Are you planning to vote in this election?
Source: polling survey results
2.5 Boycotting the election
Consistent with the observation illustrated above that the majority of the respondents of the six states do not know that there are other candidates than the current president (specifically in Kassala), the figure below also shows that the majority (60% in total) had not heard that some parties are boycotting the election. Again the highest percentage is in Kassala (72%).
Fig. 8: Have you heard that some parties are boycotting the election?
Source: polling survey results
73 75
4562
41 4457
27 25
5538
58 5643
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
River Nile Kassala Khartoum Jazeera White Nile NorthernKordofan
Total
Yes No
44
23
40 35 39
1633
55
72
53 60 51
6359
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
River Nile Kassala Khartoum Jazeera White Nile NorthernKordofan
Total
Yes No
13
2.6 Fairness of the Election The figure below indicates that the majority of the respondents in five states (Khartoum, White Nile, Northern Kordofan, Aljazeera and Kassala) do not believe that the election process will be fair, honest and transparent. However, in River Nile State the result is different, where 66% of the respondents believe that the election will be fair, honest and transparent. This is also consistent of the above mentioned results of their registration and the planning to vote. The River Nile State population are working hard to get their candidates winning the election.
Fig. 9: Do you believe that this election will be fair/honest/transparent?
Source: polling survey results
66
46 4333 28 31
41
34
54 5768 72 69
59
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
River Nile Kassala Khartoum Jazeera White Nile NorthernKordofan
Total
Yes No
Quote from a woman from
Khartoum: What is going on is
children playing. Actually the election
results are already there, even
before we vote: the current president
and the NCP parliament candidates
will “win”. They will govern us again
five years and who knows what will
happen in these five years.
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Annex 1: Percentage distribution of population by some election related questions by state and mode of living
Polling questions
River Nile Kassala Khartoum Aljazeera White Nile Northern Kordofan
Mode of living Mode of living Mode of living Mode of living Mode of living Mode of living
Urban Rural Total Urban Rural Total Urban Rural Total Urban Rural Total Urban Rural Total Urban Rural Total