This document provides information about polling and demographics. It begins with an introduction explaining that polling involves collecting people's background information and opinions through surveys. It then discusses what demographics are and some common categories of demographic information like race, gender, age, income, etc. The document provides examples of how polling and demographic data is used by government, such as addressing issues important to specific population groups. It concludes with a discussion of differences in political opinions between demographic groups using a poll from Prince George's County as an example.

1. Warm-Up
Read the text on your notes and answer the
multiple choice questions at the end.

2. Warm-Up
1.Why is it important for people to have their own opinions in
a democratic society?
2.What are some influences of a populations’ opinions?
3.Why would it be important for a candidate to know the
opinions of different population groups?

3. Objective
SW examine polling and demographics in
order to analyze the voting patterns that
characterize different demographics by
interpreting data.

4. Agenda
• Objective and Warm-Up
• INM: Polling and Demographics
• GP:
• IP:
• Exit Slip

5. Agenda
• Objective and Warm-Up
• INM: Polling and Demographics
• GP:
• IP:
• Exit Slip

6. What is Polling?
• Polling is to take a record of
people’s background
information and opinions.
• It is done by surveying people in
the U.S. Census, opinion polling
and exit polls on election day.
• The U.S. Census is an official
count of the population of the
United States that records
Polling: Gather
various information about information about
individuals. people.

7. Who uses polling information?
• Polling is used by candidates and
incumbents to know what the
voters want from their do om
government. at fr
h t
W an
w ur t?
ou yo en
• An incumbent is an elected y
nm
official who is running in a er
gov
campaign to keep his/her
position.
• Elected Officials and Candidates
constantly need to know what
the people want so they can
represent them well in
government and win votes.

8. What is Demographics?

9. What is Demographics?
• Demographics are the
characteristics of a
human population.

10. What is Demographics?
• Demographics are the
characteristics of a
human population.
• Demographics are used
in campaigns and by
government to make
sure people’s needs are
being addressed.

11. Demographic Populations
• Urban v. Rural
• Race populations
• Gender • Religion
• Age • Disabilities
• Income • Political Party
affiliation

12. Demographic Populations
• Common categories of demographic
information are
• Urban v. Rural
• Race populations
• Gender • Religion
• Age • Disabilities
• Income • Political Party
affiliation

13. Demographic Populations
• Common categories of demographic
information are
• Urban v. Rural
• Race populations
• Gender • Religion
• Age • Disabilities
• Income • Political Party
affiliation

14. Demographic Populations
• Common categories of demographic
information are
• Urban v. Rural
• Race populations
• Gender • Religion
• Age • Disabilities
• Income • Political Party
affiliation

15. Demographic Populations
• Common categories of demographic
information are
• Urban v. Rural
• Race populations
• Gender • Religion
• Age • Disabilities
• Income • Political Party
affiliation

16. Demographic Populations
• Common categories of demographic
information are
• Urban v. Rural
• Race populations
• Gender • Religion
• Age • Disabilities
• Income • Political Party
affiliation

17. Demographic Populations
• Common categories of demographic
information are
• Urban v. Rural
• Race populations
• Gender • Religion
• Age • Disabilities
• Income • Political Party
affiliation

18. Examples of how Polling and Demographic
information is used in government.

19. Examples of how Polling and Demographic
information is used in government.
• IF 60% of the population of Howard County
is over 55 years old

20. Examples of how Polling and Demographic
information is used in government.
• IF 60% of the population of Howard County
is over 55 years old
• THEN government will make sure they
address retirement issues such as
medicare and social security.

21. Examples of how Polling and Demographic
information is used in government.

22. Examples of how Polling and Demographic
information is used in government.
• IF 30% of the population is low income

23. Examples of how Polling and Demographic
information is used in government.
• IF 30% of the population is low income
• THEN government will make sure they
address welfare and unemployment
benefits.

24. Examples of how Polling and Demographic
information is used in government.

25. Examples of how Polling and Demographic
information is used in government.
• IF 80% of registered voters are Democrats

26. Examples of how Polling and Demographic
information is used in government.
• IF 80% of registered voters are Democrats
• THEN candidates will make sure to
support issues that Democrats generally
support in their campaign.

27. Differences in Political Opinions
A 2010 poll in Prince George’s County asked:
“What is the biggest problem in PG County?”
Taxes Employment Crime Education Traffic
7%1% 1% 8% 5%2%
22% 13%
22% 34%
43%
47%
10% 36%
49%
Women Teenagers Caucasians

28. Check for Understanding

29. Check for Understanding
1. All of these are common ways of
collecting polling information EXCEPT

30. Check for Understanding
1. All of these are common ways of
collecting polling information EXCEPT
A. U.S. Census

31. Check for Understanding
1. All of these are common ways of
collecting polling information EXCEPT
A. U.S. Census
B. Asking Friends

32. Check for Understanding
1. All of these are common ways of
collecting polling information EXCEPT
A. U.S. Census
B. Asking Friends
C.Exit Polls

33. Check for Understanding
1. All of these are common ways of
collecting polling information EXCEPT
A. U.S. Census
B. Asking Friends
C.Exit Polls
D.Opinion Surveys

34. Check for Understanding

35. Check for Understanding
2. Which of the following party platform statements are
low income citizens likely to support

36. Check for Understanding
2. Which of the following party platform statements are
low income citizens likely to support
A. “We have to raise taxes to support the war”

37. Check for Understanding
2. Which of the following party platform statements are
low income citizens likely to support
A. “We have to raise taxes to support the war”
B. “We have to increase trade with China”

38. Check for Understanding
2. Which of the following party platform statements are
low income citizens likely to support
A. “We have to raise taxes to support the war”
B. “We have to increase trade with China”
C. “We must reduced spending, we should lower health
care and education funding”

39. Check for Understanding
2. Which of the following party platform statements are
low income citizens likely to support
A. “We have to raise taxes to support the war”
B. “We have to increase trade with China”
C. “We must reduced spending, we should lower health
care and education funding”
D. “We have to increase welfare services and
unemployment benefits during this recession

40. Check for Understanding

41. Check for Understanding
3. When the majority of voters in a county
are Republican, what candidate is likely
to get the most votes

42. Check for Understanding
3. When the majority of voters in a county
are Republican, what candidate is likely
to get the most votes
A. Republican Candidate

43. Check for Understanding
3. When the majority of voters in a county
are Republican, what candidate is likely
to get the most votes
A. Republican Candidate
B. Democratic Candidate

44. Check for Understanding
3. When the majority of voters in a county
are Republican, what candidate is likely
to get the most votes
A. Republican Candidate
B. Democratic Candidate
C. Third Party Candidate

45. Check for Understanding
3. When the majority of voters in a county
are Republican, what candidate is likely
to get the most votes

46. Check for Understanding
3. When the majority of voters in a county
are Republican, what candidate is likely
to get the most votes
A. Republican Candidate

47. Check for Understanding
3. When the majority of voters in a county
are Republican, what candidate is likely
to get the most votes
A. Republican Candidate
B. Democratic Candidate

48. Check for Understanding
3. When the majority of voters in a county
are Republican, what candidate is likely
to get the most votes
A. Republican Candidate
B. Democratic Candidate
C. Third Party Candidate

49. Guided Practice

50. Guided Practice
Your task today is to use data polling information
from our school.You will either respond to the
data as a citizen or a candidate.

51. Guided Practice

52. Guided Practice
1. You will be given a sheet that describes polling data. You will
respond and then pass the paper to your neighbor.

53. Guided Practice
1. You will be given a sheet that describes polling data. You will
respond and then pass the paper to your neighbor.
2. You have a role.You must use your role and your own
opinions to guide your answers

54. Guided Practice
1. You will be given a sheet that describes polling data. You will
respond and then pass the paper to your neighbor.
2. You have a role.You must use your role and your own
opinions to guide your answers
3. If you are a citizen, you will express your concern about the
data. Answer in your designated spot.

55. Guided Practice
1. You will be given a sheet that describes polling data. You will
respond and then pass the paper to your neighbor.
2. You have a role.You must use your role and your own
opinions to guide your answers
3. If you are a citizen, you will express your concern about the
data. Answer in your designated spot.
4. If you are a candidate, you will respond to citizens concerns
by writing HOW you will solve the problems.

56. Guided Practice
This bar graph shows the median
1100
income / week by education level
825
550 $1,025
$626 $1,026
275 $454
$454 $626
0
High School Dropout High school Diploma Bachelor’s Degree
This pie chart shows the 2009-2010 graduation
rate at Fairmont. 19%
Students with Diploma
Students who dropped out
81%

57. Guided Practice
Response: As a citizen what is your concern with this data? As a
Candidate how will you address the concerns brought up by the
citizens? Be sure to BE specific in answers.
Citizen
Candidate

58. Guided Practice
Response: As a citizen what is your concern with this data? As a
Candidate how will you address the concerns brought up by the
citizens? Be sure to BE specific in answers.
Citizen
More education = more money.
454 X 52 = 23,608 and 1,026 X 53352 / 53,352 - 23,608 =
$29,744 (difference in yearly wages)
Candidate

59. Guided Practice
Response: As a citizen what is your concern with this data? As a
Candidate how will you address the concerns brought up by the
citizens? Be sure to BE specific in answers.
Citizen
19% of students drop out of Fairmont EVERY YEAR. This is
about 171 students.
More education = more money.
454 X 52 = 23,608 and 1,026 X 53352 / 53,352 - 23,608 =
$29,744 (difference in yearly wages)
Candidate

60. Guided Practice
Response: As a citizen what is your concern with this data? As a
Candidate how will you address the concerns brought up by the
citizens? Be sure to BE specific in answers.
Citizen
This is a concern because this means they may NOT make
much money, maybe not enough to support themselves and
a family.
19% of students drop out of Fairmont EVERY YEAR. This is
about 171 students.
More education = more money.
454 X 52 = 23,608 and 1,026 X 53352 / 53,352 - 23,608 =
$29,744 (difference in yearly wages)
Candidate

61. Guided Practice
Response: As a citizen what is your concern with this data? As a
Candidate how will you address the concerns brought up by the
citizens? Be sure to BE specific in answers.
Citizen
This is a concern because this means they may NOT make
much money, maybe not enough to support themselves and
a family.
19% of students drop out of Fairmont EVERY YEAR. This is
about 171 students.
More education = more money.
454 X 52 = 23,608 and 1,026 X 53352 / 53,352 - 23,608 =
$29,744 (difference in yearly wages)
Candidate I am concerned by this data too.

62. Guided Practice
Response: As a citizen what is your concern with this data? As a
Candidate how will you address the concerns brought up by the
citizens? Be sure to BE specific in answers.
Citizen
This is a concern because this means they may NOT make
much money, maybe not enough to support themselves and
a family.
19% of students drop out of Fairmont EVERY YEAR. This is
about 171 students.
More education = more money.
454 X 52 = 23,608 and 1,026 X 53352 / 53,352 - 23,608 =
$29,744 (difference in yearly wages)
Candidate I am concerned by this data too.
In order to address this problem, I plan to engage all
students at school so they will want to keep coming and
target at risk students. We can do this by...

63. Independent Practice

64. Independent Practice
1. You will be given a sheet that describes polling data. You will
respond and then pass the paper.

65. Independent Practice
1. You will be given a sheet that describes polling data. You will
respond and then pass the paper.
2. You have a role.You must use your role and your own
opinions to guide your answers

66. Independent Practice
1. You will be given a sheet that describes polling data. You will
respond and then pass the paper.
2. You have a role.You must use your role and your own
opinions to guide your answers
3. If you are a citizen, you will express your concern about the
data. Answer in your designated spot.

67. Independent Practice
1. You will be given a sheet that describes polling data. You will
respond and then pass the paper.
2. You have a role.You must use your role and your own
opinions to guide your answers
3. If you are a citizen, you will express your concern about the
data. Answer in your designated spot.
4. If you are a candidate, you will respond to citizens concerns
by writing HOW you will solve the problems.

68. Exit Slip:
1. You will have 5 minutes to complete today’s exit
slip.
2. Please only write the letter of your answer in the
appropriate blank.
3. Complete it in silence.
4. When you are done, carefully check over your
answers.
5. After checking your answers, please begin your
homework.

69. 3, 2, 1, See Ya!
What are 3 things that you learned today?
What are 2 things that confused you?
What is 1 thing you want to know more
about?