Does It Serve to Serve Poll Results Early?
Howard Rosenberg’s Oct. 30 column, “Networks Project Winners--and Voters Lose,” addresses an important issue and the tug of war between the media and the people they supposedly serve.
Reporting national political results before the polls close harms the voters and the candidates. A candidate who loses early by a small but “projectable” margin may ultimately lose by a greater margin because voters give up.
Voluntary delay in reporting national races by local network stations/affiliates would have no effect because national cable networks would be simulcasting across time zones and local stations would have no barrier to picking up results by telephone from Eastern zones.
The abolition of the electoral college would help, ensuring that victory, however close, in key Eastern states could not ensure the magic 270 votes needed.
By rights, no results should be issued until all precincts have closed, even if it means waiting until the next day.
BARBARA KLEIN
Pacific Palisades
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