How accurate is statewide polling? Analyst explains

BISMARCK, N.D. (KFYR) - The June primary election is just 13 days away and candidates are making their final push to get their message out to voters. There have also been new polling results on where some of the candidates stand.

The North Dakota News Cooperative released polls earlier this week covering the governor and U.S. House races. These are not the only polls taken during this election season. So, how accurate is polling and should voters believe everything they see?

Political analyst Rick Clayburgh said polling is really an interesting science. He said campaigns use them to shape their messages and determine where they should focus their attention, and the news media use them to see where the race is going. But he said sometimes campaigns will release polls and they can be a little off, and the general public should take them with a grain of salt. Still, he said the races this time are showing some consistency.

“When you have three polls over a period of time that really kind of show the same thing, there’s probably more accuracy in that than people would expect,” said Clayburgh.

Clayburgh said a poll is purely a snapshot in time, and something can occur during the campaign that can change some of those polls.

Clayburgh said what’s fascinating in North Dakota in the races for governor and U.S. House is the polling that has come out over the past couple of months has been far more accurate than others.