Public Opinion
Public opinion can play a critical role in political and electoral development in a country and research in this area highlights the complex collection of opinions that impact the political process. The International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES) understands the tide of public opinion becomes more crucial during elections and has developed research tools to gauge these sentiments, using them to inform project activities and better understand the political context of individual nations.
Through the Center for Applied Research and Learning, public opinion research approaches are developed for each country context, with no one-size-fits-all approach. This method has unearthed findings across the globe on voter education, elections, government, social status and much more.
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Director, Monitoring and Evaluation and Public Opinion Research
Related Content
29 Jul 2020 | News and Updates
Understanding voters’ fears about going to the polls amid COVID-19 is crucial to creating a safe voting environment. Having conducted nationwide surveys in three countries, IFES has some preliminary...
3 Jan 2020 | Survey
In 2019, IFES conducted a nationwide public opinion survey to examine perceptions of the integrity of Nigeria’s 2019 elections, the electoral process and citizens’ Election Day experiences. The...
6 Dec 2018 | Survey
In 2018, IFES – with the support of USAID – conducted a nationwide household survey exploring public opinion of the political situation in Libya and voter intentions to participate in future...
28 Feb 2018 | Survey
In 2017, IFES – with the support of USAID – conducted a nationwide household survey in Libya on citizens’ intentions to vote and engage in future electoral events in the Libyan transition. The survey...
3 Nov 2017 | News and Updates
Iraq has undergone dramatic change in the past decade. The U.S.-led war in Iraq that began in 2003, and the subsequent de-Ba’athification process led by the Coalition Provisional Authority, spike in...
2 Nov 2017 | News and Updates
In this Q&A, General Director Dr. Vladimir Paniotto of the Kiev International Institute of Sociology (KIIS) – an organization IFES used to partner with to conduct its public opinion polling in...
1 Dec 2015 | Multimedia
On October 1, 2015, the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES) hosted “Assessing Nigeria’s Historic 2015 Elections” on Capitol Hill, a discussion of Nigeria’s recent general elections...
1 Dec 2015 | Multimedia
On October 9, 2015, the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES) hosted a Capitol Hill briefing on its September 2015 Public Opinion Survey in Ukraine, which provided insight on...
22 Oct 2015 | News and Updates
On October 9, 2015, IFES hosted a Capitol Hill briefing on its September 2015 Public Opinion Survey in Ukraine.
13 Oct 2015 | Survey
While a majority of Ukrainians is disappointed with the current state of affairs in the country and does not have much confidence in their political leaders, a significant block remains committed to...
1 Oct 2015 | Publication
The mood in Nigeria is extremely upbeat following the peaceful conduct of the 2015 general elections, which led to the first democratic transfer of power in the country’s history.
12 May 2015 | News and Updates
The rise in global social media has significantly shifted the ways in which citizens are able to engage with candidates, parties, electoral officials, and with each other throughout the electoral...
2 Apr 2015 | Survey
Ahead of Nigeria's national elections in February, the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES) conducted a pre-election public opinion survey.
26 Sep 2014 | Survey
IFES’ 23rd public opinion survey in Ukraine, which polled respondents throughout the country (excluding Crimea) on their thoughts on politics, economic issues and current events.
26 Sep 2014 | Survey
IFES’ Rapid Response to Support Presidential Elections Award, supported by USAID's Consortium for Elections and Political Process Strengthening (CEPPS), has conducted public opinion research to gauge...
26 Sep 2014 | News and Updates
Ahead of parliamentary elections on October 26, Ukrainians expressed confidence in the country’s political leadership, as well as that of certain institutions. Ukrainians also have more...
1 Jul 2014 | Survey
Through its national electoral surveys, IFES has provided public preparedness and public perceptions data for all stakeholders. The most recent of these electoral surveys, conducted in June 2014 in...
22 May 2014 | Survey
A majority of Ukrainians is likely to vote in the May 25 presidential election, according to a new national survey conducted by the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES) between April...
30 Apr 2014 | Survey
IFES’ 23nd public opinion survey in Ukraine polled respondents throughout the country – with particular focus on the Eastern and Southern oblasts – on attitudes and opinions...
7 Mar 2014 | Survey
In December 2013, Lembaga Survey Indonesia (LSI), with support from IFES, fielded a national survey focused on electoral process issues in Indonesia. We invite you to download the key findings...
18 Sep 2013 | Survey
Major decisions are being made that will impact Libya's future as a democratic nation. IFES' latest survey sheds light on Libyans' perceptions about women's roles and rights in public and private...
19 Jul 2013 | Survey
Cambodians head to the polls on Sunday July 28 to elect a new National Assembly. In April and May, IFES commissioned a nationally-representative survey of 1,752 voting-age citizens and 10 focus...
26 Apr 2013 | Survey
IFES’ Applied Research Center (ARC) conducted a global survey of practitioners in gender equality and women’s empowerment in 40 countries where IFES is active. The survey identifies key...
28 Mar 2013 | Survey
From August 17-29, 2012, IFES partner Index Kosova conducted fieldwork and data processing to determine public opinion in Kosovo. The survey covered a sample size of 1,520 Kosovars and aimed to...
21 Mar 2013 | Survey
On July 7, 2012, Libyans went to the polls and elected the General National Congress (GNC) in a major step that helped put their country on the path toward democracy.
21 Mar 2013 | Survey
IFES conducted a survey of voting-age adults in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) through face-to-face interviews in the fall of 2012. The survey was designed to evaluate civic and voter...
15 Mar 2013 | Survey
Results from a public opinion survey conducted by Ipsos and IFES in Venezuela in January 2013.
12 Sep 2011 | News and Updates
Ukrainians have a more pessimistic view of their country’s future now than a year ago, with more than half saying they believe Ukraine is on a path toward instability, according to a survey...
25 Feb 2011 | Publication
The SWMENA survey investigated the extent to which women in Lebanon had access to formal healthcare. The survey also examined issues of affordability, quality of care, utilization, and proximity to...
7 Dec 2010 | Publication
The Status of Women in the Middle East and North Africa (SWMENA) is a gender-focused research project that evaluates the status of women in three countries: Lebanon, Morocco, and Yemen
6 Dec 2010 | News and Updates
CAIRO (December 5, 2010)— The latest nationwide survey conducted by the Status of Women in the Middle East and North Africa (SWMENA) project finds that while majorities of both Yemeni women and men...
13 Oct 2010 | Survey
This report details the findings from the latest IFES survey in Ukraine. This is the 18th public opinion poll conducted in Ukraine by IFES, and some of the findings from earlier surveys will be...
30 Sep 2010 | Survey
In August 2010, IFES contracted Polling Center of Jakarta to conduct a nationwide public opinion survey with a sample size of 2,500. Interviews were conducted in all 33 provinces and the survey is...
22 Jun 2010 | News and Updates
RABAT—A national survey on attitudes towards the political, economic, social and legal status of women in Morocco released today by the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES) and...
21 Jun 2010 | Publication
The SWMENA survey, in addition to gathering information about women’s and men’s economic, social and political status, investigated the extent to which women in Morocco had access to formal health...
21 Jun 2010 | Publication
This topic brief presents key findings from the SWMENA survey in Morocco. One portion of the survey examined the extent to which women enjoyed freedom of movement without pressures from family or...
21 Jun 2010 | Publication
Before conducting the SWMENA survey, NGOs in Morocco that work on several aspects of women’s issues completed a short survey to identify their data needs. One of the main challenges identified by...
21 Jun 2010 | Publication
This topic brief presents the main findings on educational attainment and aspirations from the SWMENA survey in Morocco, a survey of 2,500 women and men 18 and older, fielded in 2010.
21 Jun 2010 | Publication
This topic brief presents the main findings from the SWMENA survey in Morocco on civic and political participation. It includes an analysis of civic engagement through membership in different...
21 Jun 2010 | Publication
The Status of Women in the Middle East and North Africa (SWMENA) is a gender-focused research project that evaluates the status of women in three countries: Lebanon, Morocco, and Yemen
21 Jun 2010 | Publication
This topic brief presents the main findings from the SWMENA survey in Morocco on paid work and employment. It includes analysis of participation by Moroccan women in the formal economy through...
21 Jun 2010 | Publication
One of the principal objectives of the SWMENA survey was to examine the level of popular support for law reforms that have the potential to enhance women’s participation in the social and...
19 May 2010 | Publication
Last week at the annual World Association for Public Opinion Research Conference, Rola Abdul-Latif and Lauren Serpe of IFES’ Applied Research Center presented their paper, "The Status of the Women in...
8 May 2010 | Multimedia
In anticipation of local elections at the end of the month, IFES organized and sponsored live, televised candidate debates for the post of mayor of Tbilisi, Georgia, together with Georgian Public...
4 May 2010 | Multimedia
This video asks in a reflective manner the capacity of the Filipino electorate to channel tangible and lasting political change in the country's tarnished socio-political climate. It conveys the...
22 Apr 2010 | Multimedia
Starting at the end of May and through early September, Burundi will hold its first set of elections since all rebel movements laid down their arms and officially ended Burundi’s long civil war. “If...
4 Feb 2010 | Survey
In anticipation of Tajikistan's February 28th Parliamentary and local elections, the International Foundation for Electoral Systems, the world’s premiere election assistance and democracy...
26 Jan 2010 | Publication
The data collected after Kosovo’s first elections since declaring independence offer a unique snapshot of a young country optimistic, yet continuing to struggle with economic issues and divisions...
20 Nov 2009 | Publication
Using public opinion data from 18 Latin American countries, as well as aggregate data on the institutional design of EMBs, this study examines how attitudes towards Election Management Bodies (...
14 Nov 2009 | Publication
Assessing the Impact of Electoral Management Bodies' Autonomy and Capacity on Citizens' Perceptions of Election Quality
12 Nov 2009 | Publication
The full report of the IFES survey Change on the Horizon? Public Opinion in Ukraine before the 2010 Presidential Election has been released. Conducted just sixty days prior to the momentous 2010...