My last piece — “The Ubiquitous ‘Public Opinion Poll’ Doesn't Actually Measure Public Opinion” — actually understated the problem that every poll being run right now to my knowledge is asking the same question: “If the election for President were held today, and the candidates were Kamala Harris and Donald Trump, which candidate would you support?”
Sad. Do you remember those chubby issues booklets from states' election divisions? And I never really noticed when they disappeared. We haven't (yet) been inundated with mailers like the last elections. Has anyone?
I had worked on a campaign for a third party candidate and was analysing results by precinct when I discovered that the official election report on candidate/party total votes did not equal the number of ballots cast. I've since learned this discrepancy is termed "undervote." Officially, it seems to be explained as lack of attention or sloppy ballot marking. I personally consider it a none-of-the-above indication. Reporting it would embarrass the two-party system. Not counting or reporting it is one way the established parties continue their chokehold on the genuine voice of the people.
Why do we need polls. I never look at them!
They are a backbone of media coverage and the reason most USians never consider voting outside the duopoly in my view.
Sad. Do you remember those chubby issues booklets from states' election divisions? And I never really noticed when they disappeared. We haven't (yet) been inundated with mailers like the last elections. Has anyone?
Interesting............I had not thought of this.
I like the idea of ranked choice and would like to see it in operation. Meanwhile I vote Green,
as usual, to the dismay of some friends. But what else can one do?
Sam! On the issues too, how many Americans would vote for
-- mass murder
-- government breaking laws, taking payoffs, favoring friends, penalizing poorest
-- buying wars with taxes and debt
-- lying to voters/taxpayers about wars, taxes, debt
-- subsidizing food and medical poisons
-- subsidizing factory farms and animal testing
-- favoring big corporations over small businesses (small)
-- reducing consumer rights, denying inalienable rights
-- using untested substances on humans without their informed consent
-- unbreathable air, undrinkable water
-- charging an arm and a leg to fix an arm or a leg
-- favoring one group of humans over all others
-- desecrating the only home we have
-- CENSORSHIP
-- candidates with false campaign promises
-- [write in]_________________________________________________
?
Thanks for working on this.
I had worked on a campaign for a third party candidate and was analysing results by precinct when I discovered that the official election report on candidate/party total votes did not equal the number of ballots cast. I've since learned this discrepancy is termed "undervote." Officially, it seems to be explained as lack of attention or sloppy ballot marking. I personally consider it a none-of-the-above indication. Reporting it would embarrass the two-party system. Not counting or reporting it is one way the established parties continue their chokehold on the genuine voice of the people.
Why responde the polls? or why not mess the responses? would not that render them blind? thats partially why HRC lost in 2016