politics

What went wrong with polling in two major Democratic primaries

Polling misses across Democratic primaries in Wisconsin and Michigan have exposed a mix of challenges for the industry, from late-breaking voters and unexpected turnout to a harder-to-solve problem of reaching the voters who ultimately decide elections.

What went wrong with polling in two major Democratic primaries

TL;DR

  • Polling failed to accurately predict outcomes in Wisconsin and Michigan Democratic primaries.
  • Discrepancies were significant, with expected frontrunners winning by very small margins or losing unexpectedly.
  • Challenges identified include late-breaking voters, unexpected turnout, and difficulty reaching the electorate that decides elections.