An online survey inaugurated by accounting firm Ram and McRae and its human resources company Accedo found that the three political groups in parliament are separated by only two points with APNU at 25%, the AFC at 24% and the ruling PPP/C at 23%.
In a press release yesterday, the sponsors described the methodology employed.
It said that the survey was promoted through Ram & McRae’s Facebook Page and a press announcement to the various media houses.
“It was carried out using an internet-based form which allowed respondents to provide anonymous responses but which contain a number of inherent limitations including our inability to determine the location or other information on respondents or address issues such as multiple voting.
Because this is an online survey there is an inherent bias towards any party whose supporters are younger, have access to and or are more likely to use the internet. Conversely any party the demographics of whose supporters are not of the computer generation is likely to be under-represented in the survey.
“Ram & McRae/Accedo wish to emphasise that this is a survey rather than a scientific poll and subject to the limitations inherent in such surveys. The software used allows Ram & McRae/Accedo access to individual responses which were used for purposes of analysis”, the press release said.
The press release said that there were 734 respondents to the survey. Of these 25% had voted for APNU, 20% for the PPP/C and 16% for the AFC at the 2011 elections. In those elections the PPP/C obtained 48.6% of the votes, APNU 40.8% and AFC 10.4%.
Of the survey respondents 26% reported that they did not vote in 2011 while 13% voted but preferred not to disclose which of the three parties in the National Assembly they voted for in 2011.
“Asked to identify their present political support the respondents gave responses that showed 25% for APNU, 24% for AFC and 23% for the PPP/C. Despite being an anonymous survey, 18% chose not to disclose the political party they support while 9% of respondents said “none of the above”. This trend prevailed throughout the three days of the survey”, the press release said.
On the question of an APNU/AFC Coalition, the release said that 82% of respondents said that they were aware of ongoing discussions on an electoral alliance between the APNU and the AFC. Fifty-five percent said that they support such a coalition and that they would vote for it while 27% were opposed to it and 33% said they would vote against it.
“In other words, among the respondents there was both support for the idea of a coalition (55:27) and potential voting in favour of a coalition (55:33)”, the press release said.
It said that 72% of AFC supporters backed the coalition while 90% of APNU supporters are in favour.
Further, 74% of AFC supporters would like an AFC nominee to lead the coalition while 68% of APNU supporters would like an APNU nominee to lead.
