Results
How our results work
Every platform counts views the same way. Here is what a result means, and what it does not.
A count of the people who answered
Every result is a straight count of the people who chose to put their view on record. It is not an opinion poll and it is not a sample chosen to match the whole population.
No weighting, ever
Some research adjusts answers so that certain groups count for more or less. We never do this. Every answer counts the same, because everyone gets an equal say.
What a result tells you
A result shows what the people who took part said. It may not match the views of everyone in the country, area or club. That is why every result shows how many people answered.
One say per person
Each person gets one say on each question, as far as each platform can check. Every platform publishes how it checks and the limits of that check.
Where people say they live
Some platforms show results by area, such as a council ward. Unless a platform says it has checked, the area is what each person told us. Results by area say so, and sudden bursts of answers from one area are flagged.
Small groups are protected
An overall result can be shown from the first answer, with the number of answers beside it. Any breakdown, such as by ward, area or group, is only shown once it has at least 10 answers, so that nobody's answer can be worked out.
Unusual activity is flagged, not hidden
If checks spot something unusual, such as a sudden burst of answers, the result is still published, with a dated note explaining what was seen and what was found.
Closed means closed
Once a question closes, it is never reopened. If the subject comes up again, a new question is asked and linked to the old one.
Mistakes are corrected in the open
If we get something wrong, we add a dated correction note beside the result. The original stays on record so anyone can see what changed.
Requested questions are labelled
Organisations can suggest or request a question. It goes through the same neutrality checks as every other question and is labelled with who asked for it. Paying never changes the wording, the counting, or what is published and when.
Each platform also explains its own method in more detail on its own website. The full group rules are in our Neutrality and Editorial Policy.
Reusing our results? Each platform publishes its own terms for reusing its data. Please credit the platform and show how many people answered.