Are there too many political polls? We are in glut – and it may be about to get worse
Australia has more polls than ever. Research shows poll-focused media coverage increases public cynicism and damages political debate.
From the release of 12 polls in July 2026, to the current average of roughly two polls every week, the frequency of political polls has skyrocketed. This rise correlates with Australia's status as a "coups capital of the democratic world," as several leadership changes occurred among major parties. Although the surge in polls is partly explained by Australia's political climate, the impact on political discourse is evident.
Opinion polls are often used to shape public debate, but this frequent coverage can distract from substantive issues and long-term problems facing the nation. Research suggests that constant horse-race-style reporting leads to increased cynicism towards politicians and media, and a decline in the public's trust in credible news sources.
Moreover, journalists often report small, statistically insignificant shifts in polls as if they were meaningful changes, manufacturing a sense of movement and news value out of pure statistical noise. To counteract these negative effects, journalists and editors could downplay opinion polls and improve their coverage, while journalists could receive training on community engagement to reduce horse-race journalism.
Politicians should also be cautious in how they utilize polling data, as it can be manipulated to suit their interests.
Written by urgent.news from The Conversation AU's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
