Polls
Your front-page article on the shortcomings of pre-election polls and exit polls raised a subject that has long been a sore point with me (Nov. 9).
What real purpose do they serve? Some may argue that candidates can use this information to focus their campaign efforts in weak geographical or socioeconomic areas. The media obviously use them to be the “first” and the “best” in reporting. Maybe there are other reasons and probably are all just as self-serving.
None of these reasons are to serve the public. On the contrary, especially in the case of national elections, exit polls are used for the purpose of discouraging people from voting.
I have never been approached by poll takers, but I have decided I will give misleading information on some questions if I am.
If enough people do this, pollsters will become useless and, just imagine! My vote will count!
JERRY L. BUCHANAN
Glendale
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