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How exit polls are evolving as more Americans vote early
The Associated Press and broadcast networks have introduced a voter survey designed to capture who voted and what influenced their choices, including people who cast ballots before Election Day. The shift matters because traditional exit polls focused on in-person Election Day voters, while advance voting has become common.
The survey combines interviews in person, online, by phone and by mail, using voter records to identify people who have already voted. Organisers aim to conduct 80,000 to 100,000 interviews and report results in every state with a statewide election, examining voter demographics, priorities and candidate issues.
In short
- The new survey includes people who vote early.
- Interviews will take place in all states with statewide elections.
- Organisers aim for 80,000 to 100,000 responses.
Explained simply
For many years, exit polls relied mainly on interviews with people leaving polling stations on Election Day. They offered a snapshot of who voted and what issues shaped their choices, but did not capture people who had already voted.
Early and postal voting have become a regular part of US elections. The Associated Press and television networks now use a survey that contacts voters in several ways and uses voter records to find people who have cast a ballot.
The survey is intended to show how voters differ across states and groups, and which issues they say influenced their choices. Its results can help explain election outcomes, alongside the official vote count.
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