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Broadcast networks chided about tally
Everytime networks update its viewers of its latest quickcount results, they repeatedly mention that what they have so far is "partial and unofficial." Now correct me if I'm wrong, but by "Partial" they mean it's still incomplete, and "unofficial" they mean.. well, it's not official. Is it that hard to understand?
Come to think of it, anyone can make a quickcount, given the money and if you actually care for Philippine politics. TV networks, having more than enough money (the Lopezes might have been wishing that elections occur annually) from candidates like Prospero "I have more green than just pechay" Pichay, and Money Villar (quoted from Danton Remoto), and since they have to care for Philippine politics for the sake of ratings, they made quickcounts. With the help of trillions of AMA and STI students (how many campuses do they have, anyways?), quickcounts try to be as comprehensive as possible, considering they would only cover 10% of voter turnout. Again, this is in light of being "partial and unofficial"
What annoyed me the most is that the government had already expressed "disappointment" for the "delayed quick count by the National Movement for Free Elections", since they beleive that it is "the most reliable source of data on the election outcome." Wait, isn't comelec supposed to be the definitive source for that? Yes they are, ideally, except you have to wait until May 26 for that. We Filipinos hate waiting. Tsismoso din tayo eh.
Quickcounts, as its name clearly suggests, is a quick-count. Despite its limitations, it is nonetheless accurate, since they are getting the numbers from the same source from each region as mch as possible. It is a snapshot of the things to come.
And why complain as early as now..? quickcounts haven't reached the 10M mark yet (the average number of votes senators get when elected). Sounds fishy hehe.
So take it or leave it, okay? Since you can't deliver information to us, we'll just rely on others. The presence of these quickcounts is a recurring reminder of how slow and jurassic (i love using this term) comelec is. It's kinda sad that even India (with 10x more voters) has electronic voting.
May 16 2007, 12:58:52 UTC 5 years ago
All of these boil down in saying that 10% is still 10%, and whoever wins in the networks' quick count will definitely expect to be included in the top 12, they have spent too much to just let go without a fight. The problem is what if in the end they do not land in the top 12, allegations of cheating will run amok from the losing side/s.
I agree that accusing the networks of siding with any particular candidate or group of candidates by trending poll data is a far fetched assumption, but of course, it is a cause for concern. By merely stating who is in the top 12 as early as now, with less than 10% counted and method of media count not scrutinized, then whoever wins in the end who are not in the media's list will definitely face cheating charges.
Malacanang's point is only to raise awareness of the possibility that chaos will ensue if ever trending does happen and senators elected be accused of poll fraud.
May 16 2007, 13:45:47 UTC 5 years ago
but still, it's 10%, speculate all we want, it will always be partial and never will it be official. And this complaint was the first (to my memory, at least), tv networks have been doing quickcounts since.. 1992? i dunno.
sadly, we have to wait for the official results in the coming week/s.
May 17 2007, 09:00:42 UTC 5 years ago