Big Journalism Exit Poll: Traditional Marriage Out, Same-Sex Marriage In

Conn Carroll / November 03, 2010

Since 2003, the Associated Press, ABC News, CBS News, CNN, Fox News and NBC News have cooperated in the form of the National Election Pool (NEP) to produce one set of nationwide exit poll data. First, representatives from each news organizations form a committee that comes up with the specific question for that cycle’s poll. Then the NEP contracts with Edison Research to conduct the actual polling on Election Day.

In 2008, as they had done in previous cycles, the NEP asked respondents “Are you currently married?” and “Do you have any children under 18 living in your household?” The exit polling found that 51% of those “married with children” voted for Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) while only 48% voted for President Barack Obama.

This year, however, the NEP did not ask respondents if they were married. (more…)