Polls Don't Reflect the Views of People Who Distrust Poll-Takers

October 30, 1992

In the Opinion page column "Can We Trust the Polls?," Oct. 15, the author omits one class of voters from his list: Those unwilling to share their views with anonymous poll-takers. These pollsters are the disembodied voices who present no credentials and are unwilling or unable to tell us how the information will be used. Not all polls are equally scientific; not all pollsters are equally scrupulous. There is no assurance of confidentiality. To the standard list of responses should be added one more: vote r unwilling to give up his or her right to privacy. Jill S. Buckley, Socorro, N.M.

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