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Do the polls influence how you vote?

(112 Posts)
Starblaze Sat 07-Dec-19 21:11:24

I've seen a few people say they will vote Conservative because they are ahead in the polls.

Do you base your vote on being on the "winning" team?

Do you vote by policy?

Do you stick to a political party like this is football and support your team no matter how badly they play?

Do you think you shouldn't bother voting because the polls say your party won't win? (you should anyway)

Do the polls impact you?

Grannyhall29 Sun 08-Dec-19 11:23:29

No I couldn't care less about the polls but I'm voting for Boris mainly because I want Brexit, yes I know Conservatives have a lot of issues but the thought of Corbyn in power absolutely terrifies me

Lilyflower Sun 08-Dec-19 11:30:31

The idea that prople will go into a polling booth and deliberately vote for a hard left, Marxist anti-Semite backed by Momentum thugs who have been intimidating and abusing others makes my blood run cold. To me, this is the only issue in this election.

The only way to ensure this doesn't happen is to hold your nose and vote for the other main party candidate whether you like the leader or his party's policies or not. I don't like all of them but I know enough about Stalinist Russia and China and Venezuala today toknow what will happen to freedom and the economy if JC gets in on Friday.

Lancslass1 Sun 08-Dec-19 11:31:19

Me too,Grannyhall29

Grandma70s Sun 08-Dec-19 11:40:32

The thought of either of them in power terrifies me. I can’t remember ever having a worse choice, and I’ve been voting for almost sixty years.

Not that I shall vote for either main party, but my vote will have little effect, I fear.

ClareAB Sun 08-Dec-19 11:43:08

Nope

Niobe Sun 08-Dec-19 11:44:12

I read the polls out of passing interest but they do not influence how I vote. Like most people on GN I have a brain and am more than capable of deciding what I want from an MP or PM.

Charleygirl5 Sun 08-Dec-19 11:45:56

I agree Niobe we do not have a sheep mentality.

notanan2 Sun 08-Dec-19 11:47:37

No because polls are not an accurate cross section.

DH was surprised to see Lib Dems ahead in the poll run by Vote For Policies for our Cons stronghold area.... until I reminded him that the firm supporters of any party are less likely to use that website so the pole is only capturing the swinging voters. The lifelong cons voters arent using it.

If you base your tactical vote on a poll you need to think carefully about who the poll is capturing and whether it is an accurate snapshot

driverann Sun 08-Dec-19 11:58:16

I am voting Labour because I trust Corbyn and I never would trust Johnson. Looking back over the last ten years of Conservative government I can not think of one thing that they have done any good. I have never been on any benefits but I know work colleagues who are. The bedroom tax. Rubbish. Universal Credit. Rubbish. The constant increase in Rail fares Rubbish. Reducing the police numbers. Referendum rubbish. Hundreds of libraries and playgroups have been closed down. Take all give nothing back Tories out out out.

pinkquartz Sun 08-Dec-19 12:03:03

No.

pinkquartz Sun 08-Dec-19 12:04:50

I wish they would stop doing Polls. Voters should think not follow.

How anyone can justify voting Tory is beyond me.

Patticake123 Sun 08-Dec-19 12:14:49

I have been a responder of polls run by yougov and I rarely tell them my true intentions. So in answer to the question, I ignore the polls, do my level best to skew them and think they should be banned a couple of weeks prior to the election.

Starblaze Sun 08-Dec-19 12:16:47

I do the same when asked Patti cake.

henetha Sun 08-Dec-19 12:25:22

No, not influenced by polls or anything else. I think about it for ages, trying to make a decision about what is best for the country, but when standing in the polling booth I then go with my gut feeling.

Parsley3 Sun 08-Dec-19 12:30:09

No. This time I am voting tactically.

chrissyh Sun 08-Dec-19 12:33:11

I hope not because over the last referendum and elections they have been wrong.

ayse Sun 08-Dec-19 12:35:09

As said before, polls are opinion only so it depends on who they ask and whether those polled give an honest answer and I agree they should be banned at least 2 weeks before polling.

GinJeannie Sun 08-Dec-19 12:41:24

My beliefs and principles have never been changed by any polls or party election broadcasts or other forms of brain washing!

Mcrc Sun 08-Dec-19 13:47:09

NO

GillT57 Sun 08-Dec-19 13:57:22

Do get a grip Lilyflower, rather a wild statement there, and somewhat offensive to those of us who have not been blinded by the Johnson lies. I live in a constituency with an ERG Tory as MP so frankly, my vote will count for nothing other than a representation of my not wishing to support the dreadful man, the best I can hope for is that he gets a seriously reduced majority. But, on the plus side, I am able to vote for who my conscience tells me is the right candidate, unlike some friends who live in marginal areas where there is a lot of discussion about tactical voting.

AdeleJay Sun 08-Dec-19 14:43:45

Travelasfar I think it’s an unlucky day for us all. We are in an unenviable position whatever the outcome. There is no easy fix & all on offer seems to be fairytale stuff. And it will all go on and on & on ad infinity confused

AdeleJay Sun 08-Dec-19 14:44:27

Infinitum-

Chestnut Sun 08-Dec-19 15:33:15

This election reminds me of the USA election so I've adapted this for us.

Like them, we are caught between a rock and a hard place.

SirChenjin Sun 08-Dec-19 15:48:23

We’ve got a third SNP shaped option up here shock

One of my friends said this week that you knew UK politics was in a bad way when the SNP started to sound sensible.

Saggi Sun 08-Dec-19 15:56:09

No