What is the point of election polls?

[S100HP]

Essentially as per the title. What is the point in polls? Is it just to fill the time so they've something to talk about?

[Johnnytheboy]

I was thinking this, wouldn't it be better if people voted for who they most wanted to win than who they thought might win?

[Dr Jekyll]

S100HP said:

Essentially as per the title. What is the point in polls? Is it just to fill the time so they've something to talk about?

I suspect so. Not having polls would take most of the fun out of elections but it would be interesting to see how voting patterns would change without them.

[greygoose]

Money for polling organisations is the only point, how many people do you know who have been asked how they will vote?

[anonymous-user]

greygoose said:

Money for polling organisations is the only point, how many people do you know who have been asked how they will vote?

I think that’s a good point. I haven’t ever taken part in a political poll. I may have been approached but just palm them off before I find out what it is they want.

I’m not sure I’d tell the truth if I was asked, and think that’s a common occurrence which maybe is why they rarely seem accurate.

[Murph7355]

If they can be believed they give all sorts of indicators.

I think they should be embargo'd as soon as an election is called. If only to cut down the chaff on here

[stongle]

greygoose said:

Money for polling organisations is the only point, how many people do you know who have been asked how they will vote?

Nope, they are massively important for betting. Or investment banking.

If I know likelihood of a future event, there are infinite numbers of bets / punts / trades you or I could put on.

How big a punter you are, gets you access to better liquidity though - so not always best to stake the farm.

[abzmike]

I’m not keen on banning things, but polls should be banned. People should have to think for themselves about who to vote for, not be influenced by numbers produced by an organisation that is inaccurate, biased or both.

[EarlofDrift]

It's interesting to see each party representatives try and claw back positives when poll after poll says they are between 12-15 points behind.

[gregs656]

I went to a talk with the campaign managers from the 2 main parties here and a strategist from the 3rd party and polling is big, it influences everything.

What I thought was interesting is the smaller 3rd party campaigning on 1/3 of the budget who couldn’t afford polling had a strong campaign because they came up with a strategy and ran with it.

I didn’t get to ask my question but it was going to be along the lines of ‘do you think political campaigns are too reactive to polling and should they be more proactive on message’

[EarlofDrift]

gregs656 said:

I went to a talk with the campaign managers from the 2 main parties here and a strategist from the 3rd party and polling is big, it influences everything.

What I thought was interesting is the smaller 3rd party campaigning on 1/3 of the budget who couldn’t afford polling had a strong campaign because they came up with a strategy and ran with it.

I didn’t get to ask my question but it was going to be along the lines of ‘do you think political campaigns are too reactive to polling and should they be more proactive on message’

In this election the third party in England & Wales are the Lib Dems, the only strategy they have is to keep banging on about stopping Brexit. With that single policy they are alienating 17.4million people that voted Leave.

I would be amazed if the Lib Dems got more than 15-20 MP's, and yet you have Jo Swinson the delusional idiot telling everyone she's aiming for the job of Prime Minister

[Bibbs]

S100HP said:

Essentially as per the title. What is the point in polls? Is it just to fill the time so they've something to talk about?

Lately, it's been to make the lefties feel like they'll win, and then provide lots of laughs with their reactions to the actual, result when posted on YouTube.

[gregs656]

EarlofDrift said:

In this election the third party in England & Wales are the Lib Dems, the only strategy they have is to keep banging on about stopping Brexit. With that single policy they are alienating 17.4million people that voted Leave.

I would be amazed if the Lib Dems got more than 15-20 MP's, and yet you have Jo Swinson the delusional idiot telling everyone she's aiming for the job of Prime Minister

Yeah and the Lib Dem’s probably don’t have the money to work out what strategy sells them best so they kind of have to pick something and run with it, in their case it doesn’t seem to be paying out.

Labour and The Conservatives probably pay a lot of money to get a picture of the feedback through polling so they can understand not only what isn’t working but why and then make their next move.

[The Li-ion King]

Bibbs said:

S100HP said:

Essentially as per the title. What is the point in polls? Is it just to fill the time so they've something to talk about?

Lately, it's been to make the lefties feel like they'll win, and then provide lots of laughs with their reactions to the actual, result when posted on YouTube.

Crazy policies like free broadband for all (though we don't know what speed ), nationalising everything, but taxpayers being hammered for this to happen, a neutral Brexit stance, all led by a guy who looks like he's been sleeping rough in a waste container... would you want him to represent you at Brussels or the UN for serious stuff?

Like Dianne Abbott with a calculator, it just doesn't add up ...

[frisbee]

EarlofDrift said:

In this election the third party in England & Wales are the Lib Dems, the only strategy they have is to keep banging on about stopping Brexit. With that single policy they are alienating 17.4million people that voted Leave.

I would be amazed if the Lib Dems got more than 15-20 MP's, and yet you have Jo Swinson the delusional idiot telling everyone she's aiming for the job of Prime Minister

Or if you don't apply Brexit illogic, the only choice for the 16.8 million people who voted remain....

Oh boo hoo hoo Remainers won't support Brexit or even better do it for us so we can just get on with moaning etc..

[Esceptico]

The Li-ion King said:

Bibbs said:

S100HP said:

Essentially as per the title. What is the point in polls? Is it just to fill the time so they've something to talk about?

Lately, it's been to make the lefties feel like they'll win, and then provide lots of laughs with their reactions to the actual, result when posted on YouTube.

Crazy policies like free broadband for all (though we don't know what speed ), nationalising everything, but taxpayers being hammered for this to happen, a neutral Brexit stance, all led by a guy who looks like he's been sleeping rough in a waste container... would you want him to represent you at Brussels or the UN for serious stuff?

Like Dianne Abbott with a calculator, it just doesn't add up ...

Much as I dislike Corbyn, Boris is worse. Choosing between the is like being asked whether you want to be hung or electrocuted: neither please!

[bristolbaron]

The Li-ion King said:

Crazy policies like free broadband for all (though we don't know what speed ), nationalising everything, but taxpayers being hammered for this to happen, a neutral Brexit stance, all led by a guy who looks like he's been sleeping rough in a waste container... would you want him to represent you at Brussels or the UN for serious stuff?

Like Dianne Abbott with a calculator, it just doesn't add up ...

[996owner]

Fills the rolling news channels...
Helps create "project fear" / propaganda

Keeps a few idiots in a job.


Gives us something to talk/worry about.

[Terminator X]

1000 person poll is pointless certainly vs something like Brexit or a GE where 40-50m will vote. As with anything in print in 2019 take it with a pinch of salt.

TX.

[V8mate]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

And all mention of the election in the news!