Pollsters adapt methods as phone surveys decline in accuracy

Pollsters are changing their methods as they struggle to accurately predict elections. Many are moving away from traditional phone calls due to declining response rates and rising costs. Instead, they are using online surveys and text outreach to gather data. In past elections, polls have often misrepresented voter preferences. For example, in 2016, most polls predicted a Clinton victory, but Trump won. Pollsters are now experimenting with new techniques, including asking about past voting behavior to better capture support for candidates. Recent data shows that a significant number of pollsters have adopted different sampling methods since 2020. This shift aims to improve accuracy, but the effectiveness of these new approaches remains uncertain as the election approaches.