Quote:
Originally Posted by longsuffering
Thanks for the links. I appreciate you taking the time to find them.
My next question would be - now that we've established that polling may influence voters, have be established that the influence is a negative one?
It seems that polls are just as likely to influence voters to cast their ballot for the front runner, as it is to influence them to vote strategically.
|
In my opinion it is. The bandwaggon effect may result in a majority government where without polling the result would probably be a minority government. The strategic or tactical voting effect can result in a 3rd place party being virtually wiped off the face of the electoral map because a lot of people who would normally support the 3rd place party move their vote to the 2nd place party in the attempt to defeat or reduce the number of seats the the 1st place party wins.
Both effects are in play at the same time.... this may have contributed to Harper's majority and the large number of NDP wins.... all to the detriment of the Liberal Party.... (God, I can't believe I am saying this!!!)