[MD] Voting

[pholden at davtv.com]

Quoting "Laycock, Jos (OSPT)" <Jos.Laycock at OFFSOL.GSI.GOV.UK>:

> Big problem -
> How does one ensure that the 10% are representative of the population? 

I'm no expert on polling, but perhaps someone here can explain how pollsters
go about getting representative samples. 

> Also voter apathy can be either a measure of dissatisfaction or approval and its
> hard to asses which is the bigger driver, your outcome will be skewed in the polls
> towards [people who volunteer to take part in polls] and then in the election
> towards [people who like to vote]. If people aren't voting because they've lost
> faith in the system then clearly the election outcome will not be representative
> of "the people" as it will favour the 10% minority who still have it. Conversely
> if people think that by and large everythings fine so stay home, 10% radicals go
> and turn your country on its head.
> 
> If you have confidence in the pollsters getting it right then why bother having
> the election at all? 

Good question. With modern polling techniques, elections may become a thing of 
the past. 

Platt


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