Instructions for the Exit Poll Election Assignment

You may work with one partner.

1. Identify the precinct location where you'll work:

   • If you're registered in Kentucky, you can find it at the website Where to vote in Kentucky.
   • You can find a precinct by calling your county clerk of courts -- e.g. Campbell County Clerk of Courts is at (859) 292-3885 ext 0). This might be especially useful if you're going to work somewhere other than where you vote.

2. Gather your materials:

   1. Print off the sheet with the names of the candidate, and cut them up into individual scraps of paper with one name each.
   2. Print off the script. Practice the script, so that you can do it without reading.
   3. Make a box for your data collection. A shoe box or tissue box with a slot in the top is a good choice. You might want to stock the box with a known quantity of slips to start, to increase the voters' confidence that their vote will be lost amidst all the others....
   4. Put on your NKU garb, to substantiate your claim to being a student. Do not wear any political clothing/stickers/etc., of any kind.
   5. Go to the poll on Tuesday 11/2:
      • Smile! Be polite and friendly, even if you get brushed off....
      • Approach voters randomly (don't bias our results!). If two walk out of the polling place simultaneously, approach the one you saw first.
      • Try to get 30 voters (or stay 30 minutes). If you can get more than 30, all the better!
      • Keep track of voter contacts, as well as votes. That will get us information on refusal rates.
      • Make sure to take a picture of you at the poll with your box!
      • When you're done, count the slips ASAP, and record the results (along with the number of voter contacts).

3. The Script:

   1. Hello, my name is ...................

   2. I'm a student at NKU, and I'm conducting an exit poll for a class about the Senate election between these two candidates:
      [at this point hand the two slips of paper to the voter, one with Jack Conway's name on it, one with Rand Paul's name -- Use this page to cut out the candidate names].

   3. Would you please place the one you voted for in the box, and dispose of the other one?
      [If they hand the other back to you, you may take it; they've destroyed the confidentiality of their vote of course, so evidently they're not worried about it....]

   4. Thank you for your time!

4. What you will provide to me for this assignment:

   1. A picture of you at your precinct, with your "ballot box";
   2. A written description of your experience (one page, typed, submitted to me via email -- to be shared with the class through our homepage, so make sure you don't include anything you wouldn't want out on the internet)
   3. The results at your precinct. Include
      • The name and location of your precinct;
      • Time of day (start, end);
      • The number of voters you contacted (include all voters you spoke with, including those who refused to answer); and
      • the tally for each candidate.
   (due Tuesday, 11/9, and worth two homework grades):