Pamella Sittoni: Opinion polls: Strict standards guiding their publication, and what to believe The Publication of Electoral Opinion Polls Act requires several disclosures by anyone releasing or publishing polls. Our Columnists 6 min ago Listen

Polls from credible agencies In addition, print and digital platforms are required to publish the wording of the opinion poll questions; the name and address of the sponsor of the opinion poll; the name and address of the person or organisation that conducted the poll and information about the methodology used to collect the data, including the sampling method; the population from which the sample was drawn; the size of the initial sample; the number of individuals who were asked to participate in the opinion poll and the numbers and respective percentages of them who participated in the opinion poll, refused to participate in the opinion poll or were ineligible to participate in the opinion poll.

In fact, the law governing the publication of opinion polls is referred to as “the Khalwale Act” because he, while serving in the National Assembly, sponsored the Bill in 2011.

Questioning and sampling methods The Nation Media Group’s Editorial Policy, in addition to requiring journalists to obey the law, provides guidelines on opinion polls.