What Is Polling?

According to the Merriam Webster dictionary, the definition of "to poll" is to receive and record the votes of.

According to the Merriam-Webster online dictionary, the definition of "to poll" is to receive and record the votes of, so the action of "polling" is simply collecting the votes of a group in order to determine an outcome.

What Exactly Is Meant by a "Vote"

Webster's defines the word "vote" as a usually formal expression of opinion or will in response to a proposed decision. Any type of decision can be voted upon. Budget proposals and political elections are examples of formal, official selections decided by vote, while family vacations or what to name the dog are examples of informal and unofficial things to vote on. They may be more private, but they're still decisions that can be voted upon nonetheless.

How Voting and Polling Relate to Each Other

Voting and polling may seem like the same thing, but they are not. In fact, they are the two sides to the election or decision process. Voting is the act of expressing opinion, and polling is the process of collecting that opinion.

Polling Sites in Political Elections

A popular expression used to describe what happens on election day is that "the people go to the polls." This is said because people have to go to polling sites in order to cast their votes. Polling sites are where people can express their opinions by voting and the government can collect those opinions. The votes are counted and the election is decided.

Opinion Polls

Polling is used in more situations than just political elections. Polls are used every day to determine opinions on issues or products. Most of these are not official polls in that they do not actually determine a decision, but rather use the results to gauge general opinion and consensus. News programs use polls all the time, as do companies trying to gauge the popularity of a product.

Private Polling

A number of companies and universities actually operate their own polling systems to determine public opinion on a variety of different issues, ranging through topics social, economic, political, domestic and more. They poll people online, in person or over the phone, and publish their results. These polls are often simple surveys. Some of the largest and most famous private polling institutes include the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute, Gallup and CNN.

References

• Merriam-Webster: Poll, Vote
• Quinnipiac University Polling Institute
• Gallup