

How Do Election Polls Work?
16 snips Nov 23, 2022
Jeff Guo, a Planet Money reporter known for his insightful explorations of economics and data, joins to unravel the mysteries of election polling. He shares behind-the-scenes insights from Marist College's polling training, revealing how phrasing impacts survey responses. Guo discusses historical polling failures and the decline in response rates, particularly among younger and rural voters. He humorously reflects on the challenges of traditional methods and highlights innovative approaches like texting to boost engagement and accuracy.
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Magic Phrases for Polling
- Use "magic phrases" like "Let's try a few and see how it goes" to keep people on the phone during polling calls.
- Emphasize that the poll "just takes a few minutes", "every opinion matters", and "there are no right or wrong answers".
Smile While You Dial
- Project positivity and enthusiasm to engage respondents.
- Smile while you dial to sound upbeat and approachable, increasing the likelihood of participation.
The Polling Crisis
- Pollsters face a growing challenge in getting people to complete surveys.
- Non-response rates make it harder to achieve accurate polls and gather reliable data.