Stage-led political rallies are the preferred form of political canvassing, followed by campaigning on social media, according to a survey by Suan Dusit Rajabhat University, or Suan Dusit Poll.
The poll was conducted on Sept 18-22 among 1,174 voters after the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) eased restrictions to allow parties to resume some activities -- although campaigning itself, including the use of electronic and social media, is still prohibited.
Asked to name their preferred mode of campaigning which they enjoy as voters, 29.3% mentioned political addresses on stage; 26%, use of social media; 25.1% door-to-door canvassing; 9% campaigning with a convoy of vehicles; 6.9% campaigning via parties' websites; 6.8% large billboard displays; and 0.52% sending SMS messages on mobile phones.
Asked how they view stage rallies in particular, 61.8% were positive, saying it allows candidates to explain their vision and outline their policies and gives people a chance to view the candidates and assess their personalities, and 32.1% said they do not like it, saying it is noisy and creates crowds.
Fans of social media campaigning said it was modern, effective and helps save time and money.
