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Abstract
Several arguments both for and against banning public opinion polling during elections are presented. Reasonable responses to all of the arguments in favor of banning polls can be made, although some legislation regarding the disclosure of information is needed. Proposed legislation in Canada concerning the prohibition of polls is reviewed, and a model set of disclosure standards for the publication of poll results during election campaigns is presented. Routine disclosure of the following should be required: 1. the name of the person or organization conducting the poll, 2. the name or description of the target population, 3. the size of the sample and subsamples, 4. dates of the first and last completed interviews, 5. margins of sampling and nonsampling errors for any reported percentage results, 6. the exact wording of each question, 7. nonresponse rates and the method of testing nonresponses, and 8. data collection procedures.