Difference between revisions of "Straw poll"
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Revision as of 17:52, January 17, 2009
A straw poll is a non-binding poll of the votes or preferences of members of a political convention. Often a "straw poll" is used to indicate who the leading candidates are in an upcoming election. The name "straw poll" came from the 17th-century writer John Seldon, who said: "Take a straw and throw it up into the air—you may see by that which way the wind is."[1]
A straw poll emphasizes the quantity of votes over quality. They are generally highly unreliable. For example, an online poll might ask viewers to click a button that corresponds to their opinion. Such a poll would be unreliable because nothing is known about the people who vote and they can vote over and over again.[2]
See Also
References
- ↑ http://www.worldmag.com/articles/13258
- ↑ US Government and Politics