In elections,
however, an unrepresentative sample participates.
As we will see in later chapters, some people are more likely to vote than others.
Therefore, the results of an election are skewed in favor of the opinions of the people most
likely to vote. Elections do not truly reflect the people’s will. They reflect the
voters’ will. However, a well-administered survey does not produce skewed
results. Because the survey is administered to a random sample of people—
with no group having a greater or lesser likelihood of participation than any
other group—it reflects the will of the entire people. Therefore, surveys are
more accurate reflections of the popular will than are elections.