An exit poll showing the supposed results on the first day of overseas voting in five different countries needs context.
On April 12, a Facebook user published a screenshot showing alleged exit poll results in Qatar, Italy, South Korea, Hong Kong, and Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. It bore the caption: “Ano na lugaw hahahaha bukas abangan ang boto mo.dito sa UAE (Now what, [Leni]? Hahahaha wait for your votes tomorrow here in UAE).”
The unofficial poll shows presidential candidate Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. with a three- to four-digit lead over his rivals, who received only single to double-digit votes. The FB post does not identify who commissioned the poll.
Exit poll results like the one currently circulating online should not be considered a reliable source to establish a trend in the outcome of elections.
Commission on Elections (Comelec) spokesperson James Jimenez said in an April 11 tweet that exit polls are “not the official tally of votes” for the upcoming May 9 polls.
Read the full story on VERA Files Fact Check.
Related fact checks
- Supposed ‘exit poll’ among OFWs in Hong Kong is misleading
- Marcos Jr is not leading in exit polls in Hong Kong overseas voting
- Walang basehan ang kumakalat na umano’y isang “exit poll” ng overseas voting sa Hongkong kung saan sinasabing nangunguna ang Marcos-Duterte tandem sa botohan doon
- Bongbong Marcos, nangunguna na raw sa overseas voting?
- Bongbong Marcos, nangunguna raw sa Hong Kong, Riyadh, at Italy?
