Courtney Kennedy

Aug 28, 2024 | pewresearch.org | Scott Keeter |Courtney Kennedy

Confidence in U.S. public opinion polling was shaken by errors in 2016 and 2020. In both years’ general elections, many polls underestimated the strength of Republican candidates, including Donald Trump. These errors laid bare some real limitations of polling. In the midterms that followed those elections, polling performed better. But many Americans remain skeptical that it can paint an accurate portrait of the public’s political preferences.