Have you ever been contacted to respond in a political poll?

Question

(Not ones you've looked for, whether online or elsewhere...)

If so, was it for a local, state, or federal election?
Did you feel the questions were objective or leading?

YA is a sizable group, so I'm curious to know how many may have answered political polls. (Especially since the only polling questions I've ever gotten have been for products and radio stations.)

Answer 1

I have been questioned by several polls and most are packed with leading questions designed to get the desired answer. I participate regularly in the Zogby polls. Some are better than others.

I guess it depends on what the person paying for the poll wants to achieve. Most often, if the goal is to sway public opinion it will poll simply "adults". If a more partisan result is sought they will poll "registered voters". If a real reading on trends is desired they will poll "likely voters". The one poll that really provides useful information to political partis is called the battleground poll. You rarely hear the results of that poll.

It is a serious poll that asks straight questions to the most likely voters in America. It gives a very accurate read on what would most likely happen if the election were held today.

Nowadays, polls are not the news they are used to create news. Take a poll of a select group ask loaded questions, get the results you desire and report the results on the news.

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Answer 2

I've been contacted twice that I can remember, by Gallup both times regarding elections. The one in 2000 and a few weeks ago about the '08 race. I don't really remember the tenor of the questions from 2000, but this time it was pretty straight forward. It was if "name" runs against "name" who would you vote for in the general election. They gave me about 7 or 8 combinations to answer. It was formulaic and objective, with no special language attached to any of the candidates. Just as a side note, not sure if this is important to your question, but I live in a fairly small town in Indiana, about an hour from Chicago and was contacted via telephone.

Answer 3

who would you vote for in the general election. They gave me about 7 or 8 combinations to answer. It was formulaic and objective, with no special language attached to any of the candidates. Just as a side note, not sure if this is important to your question, but I live in a fairly small town in Indiana, about an hour from Chicago and was contacted via telephone.

Answer 4

I have gotten phone calls for national elections, but mostly from local elections. I usually take the time to answer them. On occasion, I just don't have time to mess with them.

Answer 5

yes. i can't remember if it was local or state. it was over the phone, they were recorded questions that i only had to say yes, no or somewhat to.

Answer 6

it was for a provincial election, and i could tell what party they were from...

Answer 7

No, I have no idea where they get their stats.