Development Studies Programme (DSP) - Opinion Polls: Poll No. 23

Development Studies Programme - Birzeit University

Poll No. 23

12 December 2005

Local Councils Elections, Legislative Council Election

Public Opinion Poll # 23

[ Analysis of Results ][ Detailed Results ][ Sample Distribution ][ PDF Format ][ In Arabic ]

The results of this poll are only representative of the residents of 11 localities listed in the sample distribution table. They are not necessarily representative of the whole West Bank and Gaza.

Dates of fieldwork: 5-7/12, 2005

Number of field researchers: 75

Margin of error (+ or ─): + 5%

Sample size: 1293 Palestinians in 11 localities

* For further information or queries, contact team coordinator Dr. Nader Said or Polling coordinator Ayman Abdul Majeed at the listed address or through our website.

* Many thanks go to our field researchers, and the International Republican Institute (IRI) for their support.

Annex 1:

Results of Opinion Poll # 23

Living Conditions
	Total %
1. At the present time, how do you evaluate your family's economic conditions?
1) Very good			8.2
2) Good			23.7
3) Fair			42.8
4) Bad			17.8
5) Very bad			7.5
2. At present, do you feel secure about yourself, your family, and your property?
1) Yes		35.7
2) To an extent		29.1
3) No		35.2
3. Are you optimistic or pessimistic about the future?
1) Optimistic		51.4
2) In between		26.0
3) Pessimistic		22.6
Palestinian Legislative Councils Elections
4. Do you follow news about the upcoming PLC elections?
1) Yes		76.5
2) No		23.5
5. What is the best way to publicize news about the PLC elections?
1) Palestinian TV		43.6
2) Public Newspapers		8.3
3) Palestinian Radio		12.5
4) Leaflets and pamphlets distributed by various institutions		7.5
5) Meetings, symposia and fora with the public		25.1
6) Others		3.1
6. Do you think that your knowledge and information about the legislative elections system is
1) adequate ?		24.9
2) adequate to certain extent?		36.5
3) inadequate?		38.6
7. When voting, which of the following is most important in selecting your candidate?
Honesty
1) important		98.2
2) somewhat important		0.9
3) not important		0.9

*Community Service*
1) important	97.3
2) somewhat important	2.0
3) not important	0.7
*Educational attainment*
1) important	91.4
2) somewhat important	5.0
3) not important	3.5
4) ) no opinion	0.1
*Position on Economic Issues*
1) important	90.1
2) somewhat important	5.4
3) not important	4.1
4) ) no opinion	0.4
*Position on Social Issues*
1) important	88.0
2) somewhat important	7.4
3) not important	4.3
4) ) no opinion	0.3
*Position on Political Issues*
1) important	79.3
2) somewhat important	10.3
3) not important	9.2
4) no opinion	1.2
*Religiosity*
1) important	77.7
2) somewhat important	11.4
3) not important	10.8
4) no opinion	0.2
*Role in the struggle*
1) important	73.8
2) somewhat important	14.3
3) not important	11.1
4) ) no opinion	0.8
*Political Party membership*
1) important	37.2
2) somewhat important	12.4
3) not important	49.2
4) ) no opinion	1.2
*Affiliation with Islamic party (such as Hamas)*
1) important	26.9
2) somewhat important	12.5
3) not important	59.9
4) no opinion	0.8
*Family ties*
1) important	26.6
2) somewhat important	10.5
3) not important	62.7
4) ) no opinion	0.2
*Personal Finances of Candidate*
1) important	21.1
2) somewhat important	12.9
3) not important	65.7
4) no opinion	0.2
8. Which of the following is most important to you when voting for a candidate (PLC Elections)?
1) Honesty	48.6
2) Role in serving the local community	16.5
3) Religiosity	13.7
4) Educational attainment	6.8
5) Position on economic issues	3.0
6) Role in the struggle	2.7
7) Position on social issues	2.2
8) Political affiliation	2.0
9) Family ties	1.9
10) Position on political issues	1.9
11) Affiliation with Islamic party (such as Hamas)	0.7
9. Will the upcoming PLC elections lead to the following?
Make voters feel part of the process
1) Yes	73.9
2) No	20.9
3) No opinion	5.2
*Revitalize community participation*
1) Yes	72.6
2) No	21.4
3) No opinion	6.0
*Reform PA institutions*
1) Yes	70.6
2) No	21.3
3) No opinion	8.1
*Improve economic situation*
1) Yes	70.0
2) No	23.9
3) No opinion	6.1
*Reinforce rule of law*
1) Yes	72.5
2) No	22.2
3) No opinion	5.3
*Improve Social Conditions*
1) Yes	70.4
2) No	23.5
3) No opinion	6.1
*Improve women’s status*
1) Yes	70.3
2) No	23.8
3) No opinion	5.9
*End internal lawlessness*
1) Yes	69.9
2) No	26.3
3) No opinion	3.7
*Ensure representation of marginalized groups*
1) Yes	67.5
2) No	25.2
3) No opinion	7.4
*Promote democracy*
1) Yes	65.3
2) No	27.7
3) No opinion	7.0
*Reinforce the status quo (the current PNA)*
1) Yes	63.0
2) No	27.8
3) No opinion	9.2
*Reform political systems*
1) Yes	62.5
2) No	29.5
3) No opinion	8.0

*Create a meaningful change in current leadership*
1) Yes	52.6
2) No	34.7
3) No opinion	12.7
*Impose a political solution on the Palestinians*
1) Yes	47.8
2) No	40.6
3) No opinion	11.7
*Speed up the establishment of an independent Palestinian state*
1) Yes	47.3
2) No	43.0
3) No opinion	9.8
1. Do you think that these PLC elections will be fair?
1) Yes	55.8
2) To an extent	29.7
3) No	13.0
4) No opinion	1.5
2. If a Palestinian woman ran for the PLC elections, would you consider voting for her?
1) Yes	78.4
2) No	18.6
3) No opinion	2.9
3. If the following blocs ran for PLC elections, which one would you vote for?
1) Fateh bloc	36.7
2) Hamas bloc	20.2
3) Independent bloc (headed by Mustafa Barghouthi)	4.5
4) Independent bloc (headed by Hanan Ashrawi)	2.6
5) PFLP (headed by Ahmad Sa’dat)	1.7
6)DFLP, PPP & FIDA bloc	1.0
7) I will participate, but I have not decided yet	33.4

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