IRI-DSP Poll Show Majority of Palestinians Will Vote in Upcoming Election

73 Percent Intend to Participate in Election

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 2, 2005

Washington, D.C. --According to a recent International Republican Institute poll conducted by the Development Studies Programme (DSP) at Birzeit University 73 percent of Palestinians intend to vote in the Palestinian Legislative Council elections currently scheduled for July 17. The poll indicated that upcoming elections will be competitive with 48 percent stating they will vote for new leadership (complete poll results and analysis released by DSP are attached).

The poll also found that 84 percent of respondents support holding elections for the Palestinian Legislative Council on July 17 as scheduled. This indicates a desire among Palestinians to have their government pass the proposed election law working its way through the Legislative Council.

With the draft election law nearing final approval, the poll reveals widespread support (68%) for an election system based on national lists and proportional representation as opposed to a system based on districts. In addition, nearly 80 percent of respondents support a quota designating a percentage of seats for women in the Palestinian Legislative Council, a significant increase from a poll taken last year in which 62 percent indicated support for a quota system.

Participants were also asked to evaluate the performance of President Mahmoud Abbas's first 100 days in office. Thirty-three percent said the President was doing a good job overall. The President received his best approval ratings in the area of security agencies reform with 43 percent approving and in improving the status of women in society with 40 percent approving.

Between April 21 and 23, 2005, 1,200 Palestinians were surveyed in the West Bank and Gaza. The survey utilized 85 fieldworkers in 75 locations and the margin of error is +/- 3 percent.

Established in 1997, the DSP is a policy and research center devoted to Palestinian development issues. DSP's activities are overseen by Palestinian survey research expert Dr. Nader Said. Dr. Said holds a doctorate in sociology from Western Michigan University and contributed to the 2002 United Nations Arab Human Development Report.

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