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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Science
Alex Bellos

Can you solve it? How to outsmart a shy voter

North Carolina early voting in Black Mountain, North Carolinaepa11673900 Voters wait to cast their ballots during early voting for the US presidential election and other races at Buncombe County's Black Mountain Library in Black Mountain, North Carolina, USA, 21 October 2024. Former US President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump is running against US Vice President and Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris. EPA/ERIK S. LESSER

Today’s puzzle is about voters who are embarrassed to tell pollsters what they really think.

In elections past, right wing parties like the Conservatives have often done better than opinion polls predict. One explanation is that ‘shy Tory’ voters lie to pollsters because they are embarrassed to admit their preferences in public. With the US polls neck and neck, the existence of shy Trump voters could decide the election. (As could shy Harris voters, of course.)

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