February 28, 2025

The so-called science of poll-taking is not a science at all but a mere necromancy. People are unpredictable by nature, and although you can take a nation’s pulse, you can’t be sure that the nation hasn’t just run up a flight of stairs.

E. B. White (1899-1985), American humorist, New Yorker 13 November 1948, Jay p.386

Isn’t the point this: that people lie from time to time, and when it comes to pollsters, people often make it a point to lie?

Poll-taking has, of course, improved in terms of accuracy over the years, but upsets are not unknown. Witness Donald Trump, who was predicted to lose to Hillary Clinton. The electorate is still capable of running up a proverbial flight of stairs.