Pioneer of exit poll science dies

Mitofsky has paved the way for people like me and other pollsters to learn how to conduct polls and in general to perfect polling as a predictor of the outcome of an election. Because of the work of Mitofsky, I have been able to improve my survey research.

Mitofsky developed the election projection system (based on exit polls) that have been used to call the outcome of an election as soon as the poll closes. People learn who win an election quickly and reliably from his exit poll data without having to wait for hours or days for the official results. As soon as voting ends, the Mitofsky method was used to call the winner. President Jimmy Carter of the Carter Center uses the Mitofsky method when he observes elections to project the winners.

Aside from telling people who won an election, that is, projecting the winner before all the returns are in, Mitofsky’s exit polls provide other information as well. They gauge voter attitudes. People learn how the electorate voted. The polls tell who voted and why which in turn help political analysts discern patterns in elections especially in tight races.In short, there is a total voter portrait.

Thanks You Warren Mitofsky!.

Vishnu Bisram

Director, NACTA