SMS-based survey on polls targets 1.6m citizens

KABUL (Pajhwok): A mobile social network on Friday said it was reaching out to more than 1.6 million Afghans across the country, asking citizens if they have registered to vote, raise their voices and use their constitutionally protected freedom of speech.

With less than a month until the April 5 elections, Paywast said the SMS-based survey was being conducted in areas ranging from urban centres to remote villages

“Leading up to elections day, we will be sending SMS-based questionnaires to ask citizens if whether they think voting is safe and if they have received sufficient information to register for vote, and to make an informed decision on who to vote for.”

The survey’s findings would be shared with the media, election bodies and other interested stakeholders along with demographics data, gender and location, the statement said.

It said Paywast had previously helped organizations, governments and the private sector to conduct SMS‐based surveys and polls among groups of Paywast users.

“This is an efficient method of collecting information reliably, and to reach out to the remotest corners of the country without the need to deploy field workers to collect data.”

“This allows us to conduct and analyze surveys in a short amount of time, and to quickly turn numbers and statistics into decision and action.”

From February 26 to February 28, it said, the first round of surveys yielded a sample size of more than 7,000 respondents from all over the country.

“Additional findings will be shared with interested parties, and will be uploaded to the Paywast website and social media channels on an ongoing basis.”

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