Paywast is an SMS-based social network in Afghanistan with more than 1.6 million users across the country. Paywast users interact with their friends and peers on the social network using their mobile phone. Paywast is available across mobile network operators.
In February 2014, Paywast conducted SMS-based surveys among a randomly selected group of our users about the forthcoming Presidential elections in Afghanistan. We asked each respondent 6-7 questions on topics around the elections.
In this document we highlight some of the key findings of the SMS survey. You are welcome to contact us on info@paywast.af for more information, or to visit the Paywast Elections website, http://elections.paywast.af, to generate your own charts based on the survey data. You can also follow @AFSpeaks on Twitter to see some of the comments and opinions shared by Paywast users about the Afghan elections.
Reuters/Ipsos Core Political Survey: 2020 Democratic Primary Tracker (08/07/2...
Paywast - Afghanistan Elections Survey 2014
1. Paywast Pre-Elections Survey 2014
Round 2 – February28, 2014
7131 respondents
Released March 19, 2014
1
Speak With Your Fingers
2. Paywast 2
Paywast Pre-Elections Survey
Background
Paywast is an SMS-based social network in Afghanistan with more than 1.6 million usersacross the
country. Paywastusersinteractwiththeirfriends and peers on the social networkusingtheir mobile
phone. Paywast is availableacross mobile network operators.
In February 2014, PaywastconductedSMS-basedsurveysamong a randomlyselectedgroup
ofourusersabout the forthcomingPresidentialelections in Afghanistan. Weaskedeach respondent 6-
7 questionsontopicsaround the elections.
In thisdocumentwe highlight some of the keyfindings of the SMS survey. Youarewelcome to
contactusoninfo@paywast.af for more information, or to visit the PaywastElections website,
http://elections.paywast.af, to generateyourownchartsbasedon the survey data. Youcanalsofollow
@AFSpeaksonTwitter to seesome of the comments and opinions shared by Paywastusersabout the
Afghanelections.
Reproduction and publishing of the survey data, findings and charts in thisdocument, as well as
data generated from the PaywastElections website and the @AFSpeaksTwitteraccount is
permitted. Paywast must beclearlyattributed as the source of data in
anysuchreproductionand/orpublication.
3. Paywast 3
Paywast Pre-Elections Survey
Methodology
During 2 rounds of surveying, a total of 7,131 usersresponded to SMS
questionnaireswithquestionsabout the Afghanpresidentialelections to be held in April 2014.
The questionswere a combination of multiple choice, demographics and freetextquestions.
In thisdocumentwe go throughsome of the keyfindings of the survey, oftencomparing respondents’
answers to surveyquestionswithdemographics data.
Althoughmany respondents chose to respond to all questions in the survey, it was not mandatory
to do so. Thus, sample sizesvarydependingon the sample sizeavailable for the
questionsbeinganalyzed. Sample sizes for specificquestionsaregenerallyindicatednext to the charts.
Questionswere sent in user’spreferredlanguage – Dari, Pashto or English
In some cases, no samples areavailable for certain data points. In those cases, values (e.g.
provinceswith missing data) areomitted from the question.
4. Paywast 4
Paywast Pre-Elections Survey
Reference - Regions
Paywastgroupsthe provinces of Afghanistans by the sub regions used by United Nations
North Eastern Afghanistan
Badakhshan
Baghlan
Kunduz
Takhar
North Western Afghanistan
Balkh
Faryab
Jowzjan
Samangan
Sar-e Pol
Eastern Afghanistan
Kunar
Laghman
Nangarhar
Nuristan
Central Afghanistan
Kabul
Kapisa
Logar
Panjshir
Parwan
Wardak
Western Afghanistan
Badghis
Bamiyan
Farah
Ghor
Herat
South Eastern Afghanistan
Ghazni
Khost
Paktia
Paktika
South Western Afghanistan
Daykundi
Helmand
Kandahar
Nimruz
Uruzgan
Zabul
10. Paywast 10
Paywast Pre-Elections Survey
Voter Registration
Proportion of respondents whoanswered ’Yes’ to the question ”Have youregistered to vote?”
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
North East North West East Central West South East South West
11. Paywast 11
Paywast Pre-Elections Survey
Attitudes TowardsElections
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
Positive Negative
Registered to vote
Not yet registered to vote
Proportion of respondents whoexpressedspecific positive or negative attitudes
towardselectionsthroughtheirsurveycomments
12. Paywast 12
Paywast Pre-Elections Survey
ConcernsAboutElections
Proportion of respondents whoexpressedspecificconcernsabout the
electionsthroughtheirsurveycomments
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
Lack of trust in
elections and/or
government
Security Lack of transparency in
elections
Registered to vote
Not yet registered to vote
13. Paywast 13
Paywast Pre-Elections Survey
ConcernsAboutElections
Respondents whothroughtheirsurveycommentsexpressedspecificconcernsabout the elections, by
location type
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
Lack of trust in elections and/or
government
Security Lack of transparency in elections
Urban
Rural
14. Paywast 14
Paywast Pre-Elections Survey
ConcernsAboutElections
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
Lack of trust in elections and/or
government
Security Lack of transparency in elections
Male
Female
Respondents whothroughtheirsurveycommentsexpressedspecificconcernsabout the elections, by
gender
15. Paywast 15
Paywast Pre-Elections Survey
Elections&Security
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
Urban Rural
Male
Female
Proportion of respondents whoanswered ’Yes’ to the question ”Do youthink it is safe to
votewhereyou live”
16. Paywast 16
Paywast Pre-Elections Survey
Elections&Security
Proportion of respondents whoanswered ’No’ to the question ”Do youthink it is safe to
votewhereyou live”
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
Male
Female
Chartonlyincludesprovinceswhere 20% or more
of respondents answered ’No’
Missing bar for either male orfemaleindicates
Insufficient sample data for thatprovince
17. Paywast 17
Paywast Pre-Elections Survey
Elections&Security
Proportion of respondents whoanswered ’No’ to the question ”Do youthink it is safe to
votewhereyou live”
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
North East North West East Central West South East South West
Male
Female
18. Paywast 18
Paywast Pre-Elections Survey
EthnicAffiliation
Proportion of respondents whoanswered ’Yes’ to the question ”Wouldyouconsidervoting for a
candidate from a differentethnicgroupthanyourown”, by primarylanguage.
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
Dari Speakers Pashto Speakers
19. Paywast 19
PaywastPre-ElectionsSurvey
EthnicAffiliation
Proportion of respondents whoanswered ’Yes’ to the question ”Wouldyouconsidervoting for a
candidate from a differentethnicgroupthanyourown”, by province.
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
Badghis
Kunar
Laghman
Kandahar
Farah
Zabul
Khost
Nangarhar
Helmand
Paktia
Panjshir
Nuristan
Urozgan
MaidanWardak
Nimruz
Samangan
Ghazni
Logar
Herat
Parwan
Kapisa
Kabul
Baghlan
Takhar
Badakhshan
Kunduz
Balkh
Bamyan
Jowzjan
Faryab
Ghor
Sar-ePol
Daykundi
20. Paywast 20
PaywastPre-ElectionsSurvey
EthnicAffiliation
Proportion of respondents whoanswered ’Yes’ to the question ”Wouldyouconsidervoting for a
candidate from a differentethnicgroupthanyourown”, by region.
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
North East North West East Central West South East South West
21. Paywast 21
Paywast Pre-Elections Survey
Voter Education
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
Urban Rural
Male
Female
Proportion of respondents who had not registered to votealready, and whoanswered ’Yes’ to the
question ”Do youknowhow to register to vote”
22. Paywast 22
Paywast Pre-Elections Survey
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
Voter Education
Proportion of respondents who had not registered to votealready, and whoanswered ’Yes’ to the
question ”Do youknowhow to register to vote”
23. Paywast 23
Paywast Pre-Elections Survey
Voter Education
Proportion of respondents who had not registered to votealready, and whoanswered ’Yes’ to the
question ”Do youknowhow to register to vote”
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
North East North West East Central West South East South West