[Pollster1]

Does the same apply to, say, an agreement to purchase goods and services? If not, why not? I don't mean to be contentious, I'd really like to hear others thoughts on this.

Yes and no. Just as a customer cannot without penalty cancel my contract after I have scheduled the polling calls (I write the penalty into the contract), I cannot without penalty cancel a contractor's services at my home after the contractor has purchased the materials (contractors write that penalty into the contract). However, my regular customers this election cycle can (and often do) unilaterally cancel for the next polling cycle, with no obligation to negotiate in good faith. If my first cycle shows an insurmountable lead for either side, why should a candidate be compelled to pay me to confirm that result a week later?

[skeeter]

Sounds like your clients are bound to honor the contract for the term, or cycle, specified, otherwise you penalize them.

Yet, when an employer changes the terms of an employee's contract their only option is to quit?