exit polls
Post-ballot voter surveys
Exit polls are surveys conducted outside voting locations, asking people how they voted as they leave.
News organizations use them to project election outcomes before official counts are complete and to analyze voting patterns by demographics: Exit polls showed young voters breaking heavily for the challenger.
Results are embargoed until polls close to avoid influencing voters still in line.
Number attending an event
- demographicsStatistical population characteristics
- swing votersUncommitted potential voters
- partisanshipLoyalty to one faction
- independentsUnaffiliated persons or entities
conservatives · liberals · moderates · electorate · preferences · issues · motivation · enthusiasm
Extracting subset for study
- respondentsThose who answer queries
- questionnaireFormal inquiry form
- data collectionSystematic accumulation of facts
- margin of errorAllowable deviation from truth
sample size · demographics · fieldwork · interviews · canvassing · weighting · random selection · representative
Estimates extending forward
- predictionsForecasts of future events
- forecastPrediction of future conditions
- outcomesFinal results achieved
- winnersThose who prevail
losers · landslide · upset · swing states · margin · victory · defeat · gains
Formally registering a choice
- ballotsVoting forms
- candidatesThose seeking selection
- partiesOrganized social gatherings
- primariesIntraparty nomination contests
midterms · presidential · congressional · gubernatorial · precincts · Election Day · races · contests
Transmitted media signal
- breaking newsNewly unfolding events reported
- anchorsWeighted devices securing vessels
- coverageExtent of inclusion
- liveTo exist or dwell
television · analysis · commentary · pundits · networks · election night · calls · graphics
turnout
Number attending an event
- demographicsStatistical population characteristics
- swing votersUncommitted potential voters
- partisanshipLoyalty to one faction
independents · conservatives · liberals · moderates · electorate · preferences · issues · motivation · enthusiasm · first-time voters
sampling
Extracting subset for study
- respondentsThose who answer queries
- questionnaireFormal inquiry form
- data collectionSystematic accumulation of facts
margin of error · sample size · demographics · fieldwork · interviews · canvassing · weighting · random selection · representative · confidence interval
projections
Estimates extending forward
- predictionsForecasts of future events
- forecastPrediction of future conditions
- outcomesFinal results achieved
winners · losers · landslide · upset · swing states · margin · victory · defeat · gains · losses
voting
Formally registering a choice
- ballotsVoting forms
- candidatesThose seeking selection
- partiesOrganized social gatherings
primaries · midterms · presidential · congressional · gubernatorial · precincts · Election Day · races · contests · incumbents
broadcast
Transmitted media signal
- breaking newsNewly unfolding events reported
- anchorsWeighted devices securing vessels
- coverageExtent of inclusion
live · television · analysis · commentary · pundits · networks · election night · calls · graphics · ticker
- campaigningcandidate, campaign signs, canvassing, campaign manager, fundraising
- surveyspolls, survey, surveys, questionnaire, questionnaires
- 2000 ElectionFlorida recount, hanging chads, Bush v. Gore, Al Gore, George W. Bush
- civic engagementcivic engagement, citizen participation, civic participation, civic responsibility, civic activism
- EU ElectionsEuropean Parliament, MEP, MEPs, ballot, ballots
- phone surveyscall centers, call center, respondent, interviewers, interviewer
exit pollscertified results
Formally verified outcomes
vote totals · ballot counts · official results · election returns
exit, poll, polling, exiting, exited, polled, pollster, exit poll