Polls

Exit polls are one of the most controversial types of polls. People exiting random voting precincts across the country are asked who they voted for. This is all fine and good, but major news outlets place too much emphasis on these polls on election night.

Using data obtained from closed polling stations on the Eastern half of the country, media outlets often declare a winner too early. By declaring a “winner” after eastern polls are closed, media outlets often overlook the western half of the country, where millions of people still have time to vote. This type of poll has caused many embarrassing situations for news outlets, and is even blamed for the media’s inaccurate calls during 2000’s presidential election in Florida.

Though polls can be useful for many things, they can also be detrimental to many others. Everything about polls can be skewed in a way that supports any information. Simple wording changes can produce wildly different results. It is extremely difficult to conduct a completely fair and unbiased poll, and many organizations have no desire to do so. Instead, they would rather share the results that they want, not the honest truth.

In short, polls are an essential part of today’s political landscape, but they should not be taken at face value. Deeper research may be needed to determine the validity of a specific poll. With careful consideration and research, citizens can still use polls to understand politics, and will be all the more knowledgeable because of them.