The total survey error paradigm and pre-election polls: the case of the 2006 Italian general elections

Publication type

ISER Working Paper Series

Series Number

2011-29

Series

ISER Working Paper Series

Authors

Publication date

November 9, 2011

Abstract:

Pre-election polls sometimes fail to reach the purpose for which they are carried out: to provide accurate predictions of electoral out-comes. By looking at the 2006 Italian General Elections, this paper aims to assess the role that different factors play in determining the accuracy of the pre-election polls. We find strong evidence that the quality of the sampling frame and non-respondents may contribute to biasing the polls results. This paper also aims to show how to over-come some of the limitations of the survey data by using statistical matching techniques and weighing procedures.

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