FILE - An Elections Canada worker assembles election materials packages in Ottawa on Nov. 20, 2014 in preparation for the 42nd General Election.
Image Credit: THE CANADIAN PRESS/Fred Chartrand
October 09, 2015 - 8:30 AM
VERNON - A poll commissioned by a non-partisan group in the North Okanagan-Shuswap riding has revealed a tight race between the Conservatives and the NDP.
The group, which decided to fund the poll to help strategic voters decide how to cast their ballots, released the findings today, Oct. 8.
“It gives a clear indication, if somebody were to choose to vote strategically, who they should choose,” organizer Dr. Warren Bell says.
The company hired to do the poll, Oraclepoll Research, phoned 312 people at random and found that 41 per cent of decided voters plan to vote for the NDP. Another 38 per cent intend to vote Conservative, 12 per cent Liberal and 9 per cent Green. Of undecided but leaning voters, the results showed 38 per cent for the NDP, 36 per cent Conservative, 15 per cent Liberal, and 9 per cent Green.
Oraclepoll says the results are accurate to within 5.5 per cent either way, 19 times out of 20.
“It’s basically 90-95 per cent accurate almost all of the time,” Bell says.
While a bit surprised by the low percentage of voters supporting Liberal candidate Cindy Derkaz, Bell is happy the poll provides a clear guide for people wanting to vote strategically.
“Our biggest concern was that the poll would be a waste if the Liberal and NDP were close,” he says.
Bell is hoping a group called Leadnow will also follow through with a local poll in the coming days.
“Another poll would be very valuable,” he says. “People can look at both and say, are they close? If they are, that firms up the validity of our poll.”
If they’re vastly different, that will be important information too, he says.
The group is hoping the results of the poll will be shared far and wide. You can view them here or on Facebook.
“This is a very important election for the country. We feel the more people who vote the better the outcome will be,” Bell says.
The group has raised enough money to cover the bulk of the study, which cost $1250, but is accepting contributions from anyone who wishes to do so. Any extra funds will be used to distribute the results of the poll through advertisements. Cheques can be sent to Opinion Poll, c/o Warren Bell MD, Box 3458, Salmon Arm, BC, V1E 4S2.
Image Credit: Contributed
To contact the reporter for this story, email Charlotte Helston at chelston@infonews.ca or call 250-309-5230. To contact the editor, email mjones@infonews.ca or call 250-718-2724.
News from © iNFOnews, 2015