In the social media era, how are election polls done? [Video]

WASHINGTON — We are in the homestretch of the Election. Every day we hear about polls. They can be confusing or anxiety inducing- so we wanted to peel back the curtain on how polls are conducted in the 21st century and how to read into them.

“Nowadays, it’s a little bit more about finding people where they are,” Dr. Candace Turitto, a University of Maryland political scientist with a focus on political polling said.

“We’re trying to contact them in multiple ways: doing mixed surveys where I can call you on your home phone, your cellphone, through social media online or through a text message.”

Dr. Turitto said another way to measure voters is to keep an ongoing-online focus group- so to speak.

“So pollsters will build a larger panel of people who …