What is a “Push Poll”?
Have you ever received a seemingly normal phone call, email, or social media request to take a poll before an election, only to be faced with negative information about one candidate? Push Polls occur under the pretense of conducting a legitimate poll, but include defamatory or negative information about a candidate. Pollsters ask suggestive questions that “push” the voter toward an unfavorable opinion of a political candidate. The push poll’s true purpose is to manipulate voters.
If you are asked to take a political poll, scrutinize the questioner’s intent. Be aware of whether negative information is being pushed. When in doubt, exit out.