Quick Question regarding asking for Exit Poll Information

[KaliTracy]

This afternoon I will be contacting the Butler County BOE for information regarding what precincts had exit pollsters on Election Day. While I’m not particularly expecting a brush off – I just realized that it could happen, and just would like a few things clarified if at all possible.

1. If they tell me they don’t “have” this information, who should I ask for? I’m assuming at least one person should be privy to this information, correct?

2. Am I to assume if a pollster was at a particular site, that they were there all day – or should I ask for the hours they he/she was there?

3. Would there be any reason that they could deny giving me such information? I realize that this is public information, and that this shouldn’t happen, but…

Anything else I should be aware of?


Thanks. I don’t mind helping, but am a little new to this type of thing.
:)

[Igel]

1. I wouldn't be surprised if they didn't have the information;

in a number of polling places around the country they weren't allowed inside the polling station, and it was up to the precinct top dog to decide. This implies that the BOE didn't authorize them, which means that Mitofsky simply didn't coordinate with them. (Lots of BOEs out there.)

In any event, I'd ask for two people: first, the BOE director (who may or may not be the elected person: lots of BOEs have full-time hired people doing most of the work). Second, whoever was actually staffing the phones on election day.

That said, the BOE may have the information in their incident logs. I know I'd note that down somewhere. In other words, they may have all the information you want and not know that they have it. If they claim they don't have the information, ask if you can drop by one afternoon and peruse the incident report forms.

The Mitofsy's poll munchkins were to be there when the polls open and stay until something like 4 or 6 pm. Some didn't show up at all, and others were late (like with any other workforce of 1400). I don't think they stayed till the polls closed, because they needed to start entering all the demographic and response info into Mitofsky's database, and then verify that it was entered correctly. Maybe someone else will have that particular bit of info.

Even if the BOE knows where the Mitofsky minions were to be because he coordinated it with them, I'd want to see the incident logs for those precincts just to make sure they showed up, and when they showed up. The info may not be there ... but it may be.

I think all the states make such records public.

[KaliTracy]

3. thank you! n/t

[minvis]

2. If they don't have the information

See if they at least have the demographic information and party ID for each voter in each precinct. We could then go back to the exit poll raw data and cross reference that information.

[KaliTracy]

4. ok! thanks! n/t