WTAMU Professor Seeks Exit Poll Data

Released on: October 21, 2010, 5:21 am
Author: Rana McDonald, 806-651-2129, rmcdonald@wtamu.edu
Industry: Government

CANYON, Texas—Dr. Dave Rausch is gearing up for November’s general election.

That’s because Rausch, Teel Bivins Professor of Political Science at West Texas A&M University, loves studying election results and is conducting an exit poll for November’s gubernatorial election.

“I use exit polls to uncover the reasons why voters selected a particular candidate,” Rausch said. “I also use the data for teaching social statistics.”

An exit poll is a survey of sorts taken soon after selected voters leave their voting place. This type of poll differs from an opinion poll by asking how the voter actually voted. Rausch is asking voters to visit wtamu.edu or his web site at wtamu.edu/~jrausch. Both sites will have a link for the exit poll with a few questions about the election as well as questions on term limits, the Tea Party movement and the United States Congress. Voters also will be asked some economic questions and about religious affiliation and church attendance to help Rausch define voting trends.

“The information collected will give me a better understanding of why voters cast ballots as they did,” Rausch said.

Early voting runs Oct. 18-29, and election day is Tuesday, Nov. 2. The general election ballot will include the race for several state offices including governor, lieutenant governor and attorney general.

For more information about Rausch’s exit polls, call 806-651-2423, jrausch@wtamu.edu or visit wtamu.edu or wtamu.edu/~jrausch.

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