The Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Thursday announced that all survey firms are now required to register with the poll body during the election period.
Comelec Resolution No. 11117, which was approved by the commission en banc on Wednesday, directs all organizations conducting and disseminating election surveys to register with its Political Finance and Affairs Department (PFAD).
It also requires that all survey firms disclose the amount spent by candidates and political parties for surveys that they commissioned.
This applies to the election period preceding the May 12, 2025 polls and the BARMM parliamentary election, the Comelec said.
“During the election period, any person, whether natural or juridical, candidate, or organization that conducts and publicly disseminates an election survey must register with the PFAD of the Commission,” the seven-page resolution read.
Only pre-registered entities will be authorized to conduct and publicly disseminate election surveys, according to Comelec.
It added that survey firms already conducting studies or assessments are given 15 days to register at the poll body.
“During this period, they may continue their operations, but failure to register within the prescribed time frame shall result in the suspension of their authority to conduct and publish election surveys,” Comelec said.
The resolution also said that to guarantee that surveys are carried out honestly and are not used to sway public opinion, survey companies and entities must abide by Comelec reporting standards.
The poll body warned that failure to register during the prescribed period would result in the suspension of the firms’ authority to conduct and publish election surveys.
Additionally, Section 3 of the resolution directs survey firms to submit to the commission a comprehensive report within 5 days from the publication of the survey.
Meanwhile, the poll body is also setting standards for media organizations publishing election survey results.
It said that election survey results can only be published if they contain the name of the entity which conducted the survey and the person, candidate, party or organization that commissioned or paid for the poll0.
Editor’s Note: This is an updated article. Originally posted with the headline: “Comelec requires survey firms to register”
