A few small changes to the federal election act would ensure political polls are better reported, said University of Victoria political science professor Dennis Pilon.
When people report polls they should be required to say who paid for the survey, what were the exact questions and in what order were they asked, he said.
“That stuff is critical for us to know whether we're being manipulated,” said Pilon. “Polling is about trying to create the result you want. That's why millions of dollars are spent on it.”
Polls affect the public in various ways, he said. If people feel an election is already decided, they might not bother to vote. If they feel their first choice isn't popular, they might stay home on voting day. There's also the “winner affect” where some will want to vote for the person they feel is most likely to win.
“That's where all this polling crap starts to become very important,” said Pilon. “There are so many problems with using polling to try to gage what people think.”
As the campaign gets going people will hear a lot of polling numbers, he said. “People should ignore them.”
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mcdull
3 years ago
After the first five days
After the first five days polling should be banned. ANY POLLING AT ALL SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED.
Griff
3 years ago
Ban Publication of Polls during elections
It must have been at least 20 years ago that a Manitoba politician proposed legislation that would make lying during an election an offense. The proposal was ridiculed and died - who would say what was a lie? Which brought to mind a comment by old Flyin' Phil Gagliardi, that "if I ever told a lie, it was because I thought I was telling the truth."
I agree completely with Dennis Pilon that polls are highly manipulative - today's poll is to find out how much influence yesterdays had!
Although it would bring vociferous resistance from pollsters, media and political parties, if we want to improve our electoral process and lift national, provincial and municipal elections above the sterile, poll-guided manipulations they are today, the first and most sure step would be to ban the publication of polls during the course of election campaigns.
I don't agree that polling itself could or should be banned - political parties and media could poll all they want but the publication of the results should not be allowed between the time the writ is dropped and the only poll that matters - the vote - is counted.
The polling firms would not see their work dry up but they would lose some publicity. Political parties would still be able to take the public pulse and find out how their platforms and promises are being received. The mainstream media has the most to lose, on two fronts. A very large proportion of what is published or broadcast during the course of elections is devoted to poll results. Without all that easy fodder to fill their pages and broadcasts, they would have to put more reporters and resources on issues and policies.
The second but bigger hit would come from the erosion of media-owners power to influence outcomes.
The concentration of media ownership in this country is a huge issue. Those owners are not in the business of presenting neutral views and balanced information, as some kind of benevolent public service. They have their own agendas and also a sharp eye on the wishes of their advertisers. Media owners are in business to make money and wield enormous power over public discourse.
The National Post is a prime example. It was created by Conrad Black with the express purpose of turning Canada as far and hard right as possible and that mandate survives regardless of the fact that Black is now doing time in an American jail.
Mr. Pilon brings forward a very important issue at a critical time and I would like to hear more from him on this. I endorse his warning that Canadians ignore the polls and make up their own minds. Not be led by the nose into the voting booth with cannily crafted and in many cases dishonest manipulations.