# why have polls?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-have-polls/40116>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [November 7, 2000, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-have-polls/40116 "2000-11-07T14:59:06Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![vanilla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/f19dbf/32.png) [@vanilla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vanilla)\
**Post date:** [November 7, 2000, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-have-polls/40116/1 "2000-11-07T14:59:06Z")

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So why have them? If someone is far ahead, wouldn’t all just say, Oh well, no matter voting, its decided already?  
I see no need for them.

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**Author:** ![David\_B](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/51bf81/32.png) [@David\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/David_B)\
**Post date:** [November 7, 2000, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-have-polls/40116/2 "2000-11-07T15:41:19Z")

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Because it gives the media something to talk about.

Is there a “need” for them? No. But there isn’t a “need” for the comics pages, either. Or the Sports section. But be careful. If we continue in that vein, somebody might suggest there isn’t a “need” for Q&A columns in newspapers!

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**Author:** ![vanilla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/f19dbf/32.png) [@vanilla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vanilla)\
**Post date:** [November 7, 2000, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-have-polls/40116/3 "2000-11-07T15:42:18Z")

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or a need for moderators…

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**Author:** ![Double-P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7bcc69/32.png) [@Double-P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Double-P)\
**Post date:** [November 7, 2000, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-have-polls/40116/4 "2000-11-07T16:13:37Z")

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1. Polls give campaign strategists, politicians, and such an idea of public sentiment. Supposedly Clinton used polls to his advantage.

2. Polls, I believe, reinforce what people already want to hear. “72% of Americans prefer gold over silver? Hey, I like gold too!” Most people want to be in the majority – otherwise you wouldn’t be hearing the ludicrous “If I vote for Nader, am I throwing my vote away?” debate.

3. Do you really want to see excurciatingly boring and pre-packaged campaign speeches on television every night? Probably not. The polls fill air time, give pundits something to talk about, and allow for pretty graphics on the TV screen.