VOTER EDUCATION PLANNING SURVEY: Afghanistan 2004 National Elections A REPORT BASED ON A PUBLIC OPINION POLL July 2004 VOTER EDUCATION PLANNING SURVEY: Afghanistan 2004 National Elections A REPORT BASED ON A PUBLIC OPINION POLL Report Authors Craig Charney, Charney Research Radhika Nanda, Charney Research Nicole Yakatan, Charney Research Project Direction and Editing The Asia Foundation Research Design Craig Charney, Charney Research Radhika Nanda, Charney Research Project Management Amy Marsman, Charney Research Technical Training Assistance AC Nielsen India ORG-MARG Research & Fieldwork Afghan Media Resource Center (AMRC) This survey was made possible with support provided by the U.S. Agency for International Development under the terms of Award No. 306-A-00-03-00504-00. The opinions expressed here are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the U.S. Agency for International Development. TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION............................................................................................................. 4 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY .............................................................................................. 6 Key Findings ............................................................................................................................................. 6 The National Mood................................................................................................................................... 8 Attitudes Towards Elections.................................................................................................................. 10 Voter Education Needs........................................................................................................................... 10 Gender and Political Participation........................................................................................................ 11 Civic Education Needs ........................................................................................................................... 12 Information Sources, Media Use, and Language................................................................................. 13 CHAPTER 1: THE NATIONAL MOOD.................................................................... 14 Direction of the Country ........................................................................................................................ 14 Right Direction Reasons......................................................................................................................... 15 Wrong Direction Reasons ...................................................................................................................... 16 Afghanistan’s Biggest Problems: National.......................................................................................... 17 Afghanistan’s Biggest Problems: Local............................................................................................... 18 The Transitional Government and Hamid Karzai .............................................................................. 20 Regional Differences in Mood ............................................................................................................... 22 Ethnicity and Region.............................................................................................................................. 22 The Security Situation............................................................................................................................ 24 Criminal Victimization .......................................................................................................................... 25 Concern for Personal Security .............................................................................................................. 26 Economic Prosperity .............................................................................................................................. 28 Favorability Towards Leaders & Organizations................................................................................. 29 CHAPTER 2: ATTITUDES TOWARDS ELECTIONS........................................... 32 Knowledge of Upcoming Elections........................................................................................................ 32 Intention to Vote..................................................................................................................................... 33 Reasons to Participate in Presidential Elections.................................................................................. 34 Reasons for Not Participating in Presidential Elections ..................................................................... 35 Awareness of Registration Requirements ............................................................................................ 36 Free and Fair Elections.......................................................................................................................... 37 Election Concerns................................................................................................................................... 38 Number of Election Concerns ............................................................................................................... 38 Difference Elections Make ..................................................................................................................... 39 CHAPTER 3: VOTER EDUCATION NEEDS........................................................... 40 Ballot Secrecy.......................................................................................................................................... 40 Vote Buying............................................................................................................................................. 41 Knowledge of Election Monitors........................................................................................................... 42 Preferences for Monitors ....................................................................................................................... 43 Response to Voter Education Messages................................................................................................ 44 Impact of Information............................................................................................................................ 45 CHAPTER 4: WOMEN AND POLITICAL PARTICIPATION............................. 46 Women’s Major Problems..................................................................................................................... 46 Women’s Voting Decisions .................................................................................................................... 48 Arguments for Women Voting .............................................................................................................. 50 Impact of Arguments for Women Voting............................................................................................. 52 Voter Education for Women ................................................................................................................. 53 2 CHAPTER 5: CIVIC EDUCATION NEEDS ............................................................ 54 Characteristics of a Democratic Country............................................................................................. 54 Personal Consequences of Democracy.................................................................................................. 56 Democratic Values.................................................................................................................................. 57 Religious and Political Leadership........................................................................................................ 59 Compromise with Minorities................................................................................................................. 60 Political Tolerance.................................................................................................................................. 62 Political Tolerance: The Taliban........................................................................................................... 63 Political Efficacy ..................................................................................................................................... 64 Political Alienation ................................................................................................................................. 65 Political Discussion and Interest ........................................................................................................... 66 Interest in Political Information............................................................................................................ 68 CHAPTER 6: INFORMATION SOURCES, MEDIA USE AND LANGUAGE..... 69 Information Sources: National Events.................................................................................................. 69 Information Sources: Local Events....................................................................................................... 71 Preferred Information Sources: Election Procedures......................................................................... 71 Preferred Radio Formats for Voter Education.................................................................................... 73 Radio