Clause 1 of Article 8 of the Public Servant Election Law, which prohibits the publication and report of public polls conducted during the election campaign period, should be amended. Because of this clause voters have had to endure selecting a candidate during 23 days of total darkness. The device, which was made to prevent distorting public opinion, has produced a paranoid election campaign by limiting the citizen’s right to know and choose.

Above all the purpose of the law is not realistic; the clause was established out of concern that if public poll results, conducted for politically motivated reasons were announced, the outcome would distort the vote. However, if we look at the presidential election this year, it is clear that this preventive mechanism is an impediment to a normal vote.

First of all voters who were trying to exercise their rights by studying public sentiment were instead lost in a maze without any information. The fact that there are so many undecided is also due to the law making voters have to choose in the darkness.

Whether it is the presidential or national elections, voters are most interested in the changes of a candidate's popularity. But this law prohibits disclosure of public poll results stating reasons that it will affect the voters' choice, and result in a messy campaign where candidates will only promote content that is favorable to them.

As a result broadcasters and newspaper media, and other medium of information have been making vague predictions, which confuse voters. To forbid public announcement of the poll results continuously conducted during the election period is itself absurd and adding to the suffocation. On the Internet, groundless public poll results from unclear sources are widespread, bewildering voters.

An election mechanism full of speculation and no information should be reformed as it is up to the voters to vote for a favorable candidate or choose an unfavorable one; 23 days of total darkness is unreasonable - a 1-2 day prohibition period should be enough.

December 19, 2002