How can the media project winners in close races so early? One poll I just saw stated that the Republican candidate for governor in Illinois was ahead 45% to 44%, with 1% reporting, yet they already had projected the Democratic incumbent had won? How is this possible?
2006-11-07 12:53:32 · 6 answers · asked by Amy L 3 in Politics & Government ➔ Elections
For the first time, I am answering a question... that I don't know the answer to! However, I will say it's a DANG GOOD QUESTION!...
Good grief, in Ohio they are announcing the Governor's Race and dozens of voting precincts ARE STILL OPEN!!!! They extended the voting deadlines at many polling locations because of problems with the voting machines. Less than 1% of votes have been counted... So how do you KNOW who the Governor is, but still don't know who won the senate race?
Makes no sense to me. I never put much stock in anything until morning. Look at how bad the exit polls goofed in the 2004 elections.
2006-11-07 13:00:01 · answer #1 · answered by todvango 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They poll the people exiting the voting precincts and combined with actual results use statistical analysis to predict a result.....
Worked really well in '04... he he
2006-11-07 12:57:52 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
They ask a random sampling of people who they voted for, as they leave the polls. Usually, there's enough talkative people to get a relatively accurate sampling.
2006-11-07 12:56:31 · answer #3 · answered by Privratnik 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Having worked as a pollcommissioner in l. a., and a pollwatcher for a candidate, i will assure you they could not in all possibility get effects earlier the polls close and the machines are opened and the ballots counted. As a political technological know-how graduate from LSU, I used to nicely known the main precincts that have been ninety 5+% alerts of an election. something is "scientific polling" of human beings leaving the precincts. merely grab 20 or 30 human beings from each key precinct and ask them how they voted. l. a. is user-friendly besides. Ignorant below-knowledgeable pink neck "Christians" over 0.5 the state Roman Catholic. Romney shouldn't get 40% of the vote.
2016-11-28 02:39:05 · answer #4 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Speculation....based on early results with a spread that small
2006-11-07 12:56:50 · answer #5 · answered by bconehead 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Exit interviews, polls...
They're often pretty close.
DEMS ARE WINNING!
2006-11-07 12:56:55 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋