Polling Challenges from 2016 and 2020

Polls have faced significant scrutiny following the 2016 and 2020 presidential elections due to their inaccuracies in predicting outcomes. Factors contributing to these failures included an underrepresentation of less educated white voters, who increasingly leaned conservative and were often missed in samples. In 2020, pollsters further overstated Joe Biden's lead over Donald Trump, prompting another evaluation of polling methodologies to ensure accuracy in representation. Acknowledging these issues is crucial as polling organizations diversify their techniques, moving away from phone surveys to integrate online polling and texting for a more comprehensive view of voter sentiment.