Definition
Tracking polls use overlapping or repeated samples to show movement in candidate support or issue attitudes over time.
Political Dictionary
Tracking Poll
A tracking poll measures changes in public opinion through repeated surveys.
Why It Matters
They help campaigns and the public distinguish trends from one-time fluctuations.
How It Works
A pollster surveys respondents daily and reports a rolling multi-day average.
History
They became common in modern presidential campaigns and continuous media polling.
Example
A seven-day tracking poll shows whether support changed after a debate.
Common Misconceptions
- The same individuals are always interviewed daily.
- Daily movement is always meaningful.
- Tracking polls eliminate sampling error.
Related Terms
Related Topics
See Also