Posted on 11/21/2004 4:13:08 AM PST by prairiebreeze
NEW YORK - The consortium of news organizations that runs the election exit polls has voted to delay distributing data for several hours on future election days. Exit poll data will not be distributed until after 4 p.m. ET to the organizations that have paid for it: ABC, CBS, NBC, CNN, Fox News Channel and The Associated Press, NBC’s elections director, Sheldon Gawiser, said Thursday. On Nov. 2, the companies conducting the polls, Edison Media Research and Mitofsky International, distributed the first wave of exit poll data at 1 p.m., and the numbers were immediately leaked on the Internet and to the campaigns. Those initial numbers suggested that Sen. John Kerry had slight leads in Florida and Ohio, battleground states that were won by President Bush when the votes were actually counted.
(Excerpt) Read more at msnbc.msn.com ...
There is no reason for any "exit polls" on election day. They are the media's last attempt to influence an election.
We should start a campaign now to outlaw "exit polling"---with severe ramifications for those in the MSM who break the law.
Wonder if Drudge will take the same pledge?
Exactly, YaYa. When I hear the MSM try to blame bloggers for the exit polls, I just shake my head in dismay. Do they honestly think we can't look this stuff up?
Perhaps you'd like to read the article and the thread comments and then decide what exactly is being discussed here....
Thank you for the friendly advise. It has never occurred to me to read the post and the threads.
If you were to read the threads you would see comments like:
A better idea---ban "exit polls" completely.
and
Actually, I think the next round of "campaign finance reform" laws will ban them completely.
Pardon me, but it sure looks like there is talk of trying to make exit polls illegal. If you were to read the posts you might know that "campaign finance reform" laws and "banning exit polls" implies legal action, to say the least.
Anyone who plans to vote based upon exit polls is an idiot in my opinion.
Those who would want to restrict freedoms, in an attempt to influence the actions of those who vote based upon exit polls, are not far behind.
Thanks again for the friendly advise to read the post and the threads... it was a clever way to not answer the question I asked.
The majority of the posts are recognizing the media mischief that was involved in this latest election poll fiasco. By all means, talk your head off to pollsters if that's what floats your boat. Some of us disagree with that sort of incomplete information potentially being used/leaked to try to influence voter turnout. And that point you don't seem to acknowlege....
Prairie
That's unrealistic. The polls in Hawaii and the Aleutians close very late, and have little impact on the outcome of the election.
Those who are tabulating the votes in states where the polls have closed cannot be expected to remain silent all night waiting for those western precincts to close.
Keep them away from the polling places. Candidates can't be there. Neither should their push pollsters.
If people are manipulated weather to vote or not by exit polls, the "Problem" is not the exit polls. It is people who do not plan to vote regardless of what other people are doing or saying.
Instead of bitching about exit polls being used to manipulate people, bitch about people who are stupid enough to be manipulated.
Instead of bitching about exit polls, celebrate that people are free to participate in them if they choose to.
Instead of bitching about exit polls, celebrate that people are free to talk with voters.
Instead of bitching about exit polls, celebrate that people are free to share or publish their opinions about their exit poll data.
Those of you who disagree with voters being manipulated, do not see that those being manipulated are willing to be manipulated. If someone is not going to vote because of poll results in one race, when there are many item on the ballot, that someone is a fool.
Because some folks are fools, the problem is not exit polls, or people trying to take advantage of their foolishness, the problem is the fool. Educate the fool, do not try to restrict the freedoms of those who take advantage of the fool. Not because I like seeing the fools played, but because restricting freedoms is to great a price to pay.
They ran the exit polls in places where they knew Kerry would do well and leaked them to try and influence the election. Once again, like Rather calling Florida for Gore with the polls open in 2000, it didn't work. They knew the polls were rigged, but it fit their agenda, so they leaked them out.
What do you think ten years in the gulag for asking some one a question?
So you would be willing to trash freedom of speech?
If speech is not asking a question what is it?
Candidates are allowed in polling places, I see news clips of them voting from time to time.
I am talking about freedoms of speech and assembly outside of the polling place.
What do you think ten years in the gulag for asking some one a question?
So you would be willing to trash freedom of speech?
If speech is not asking a question what is it?
Candidates are allowed in polling places, I see news clips of them voting from time to time.
I am talking about freedoms of speech and assembly outside of the polling place.
Sorry for the double post, (I just learned that you were supposed to read the posts and the comments thanks to a fellow Freeper on this thread).
Thanks for the clarification. Now, I'll give you mine.
Pollsters are currently allowed inside polling places to conduct their polls. They shouldn't be allowed to do this. They should move their push polls "outside" the polling place if they wish to freely speak and assemble.
I would think having pollsters in the booth is pretty outrageous. I never assumed they would be in the polling place, always outside.
I would think having pollsters in the booth is pretty outrageous. I never assumed they would be in the polling place, always outside.
No, I didn't say inside "polling boths".
Electioneering is regulated. People can't electioneer within a certain distance of a poll on election day. Exit polling should be regulated in such a manner.
The Electioneering laws apply to people going in to vote. After they vote the laws do not apply.
I am not sure I am for any expansion of government regulations.
You know less regulation means more freedom.
Regulation of Exit polls is just the camels nose under the tent. Just like the smoking ban started only on airplane flights under two hours, now there are bans on smoking in parks...
The goal of those pushing to regulate Exit polls is control their effects later down stream, not to protect people from having to say "no" to a pollster.
The Electioneering laws apply to people going in to vote. After they vote the laws do not apply.
No. Most local electioneering laws are written to prevent people from campaigning at or near a polling place. It doesn't mater if the potential electioneer has voted, has yet to vote or will not vote at all. It applies to all.
I am not sure I am for any expansion of government regulations.
Yes, I'm always wary of more regulation.
You know less regulation means more freedom.
No, your above statement is an anarchist's axiom, not a constitutionalist's axiom. Do you know why?
Regulation of Exit polls is just the camels nose under the tent.
I don't believe in slippery slope protectionism. Something is either right or it ain't.
The goal of those pushing to regulate Exit polls is control their effects later down stream, not to protect people from having to say "no" to a pollster.
No, the goal of regulating activity around a public polling place is to protect the unalienable rights of those who are using public property to vote against those who don't have an unalienable right to do what ever they choose on public property.
Nowhere, but nowhere does the article state that such "restrictions of freedoms" are planned, proposed, or going to occur. As I said before, if you want to talk to exit pollsters feel free, knock yourself out. But you might also want to keep in mind who's paying for the poll info, what they HOPE it says and what they'll do to use it to their best advantage.
Prairie
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