Polling

• A bogus pollster injected fake data into the political information ecosystem, leading to the spread of misinformation through news outlets. • The scheme involved multiple UK-based companies with minimal online presence filing copyright complaints to suppress content, some of which were processed automatically by Google. • This incident highlights critical vulnerabilities in how tech platforms handle copyright notices, which can lead to the removal of legitimate news stories for up to 14 business days.

• The U.S. Justice Department has deployed approximately 20 staff members from the Civil Rights Division and Minnesota’s US attorney’s office to monitor polling sites in Hennepin and Ramsey counties for the 2026 midterms. • County officials have refused federal staff entry, forcing monitors to remain at least 100 feet outside polling locations. • This move occurs amid heightened tensions, as the Trump administration has previously targeted Minnesota with a deadly immigration crackdown and the pausing of over $500 million in Medicaid payments.

• Newsweek is analyzing 27 critical midterm election races across 19 states to determine which contests will likely decide the balance of power in Congress. • The analysis focuses on a mix of House toss-up seats and high-stakes Senate battles to gauge current political momentum. • This evaluation is significant as it utilizes polling data and market trends to predict shifts in legislative control three months before the election.

• Polling for the second phase of the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) 2026 elections is currently underway across designated constituencies. • The electoral process involves various candidates competing for seats, with a focus on presenting specific development plans to the electorate. • This phase is critical for determining the regional leadership and legislative direction of AJK for the upcoming term.

• Polling has commenced for a three-phase assembly election in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) amid violent protests and a heavy security crackdown. • Local residents are protesting economic exploitation and a controversial reserved seat system that historically ensures the party governing Islamabad maintains power in PoK. • The unrest highlights deep-seated grievances regarding political autonomy and the use of excessive force by security forces during the electoral process.

• Former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol was sentenced to two years in prison on Monday for violating the Political Funds Act. • The Seoul Central District Court found that Yoon accepted 14 free political polling services valued at 27.92 million won ($18,600) from broker Myung Tae-kyun during his campaign. • The ruling established that Yoon promised to help secure a ruling party nomination for former lawmaker Kim Young-sun in exchange for these services.

• Former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol was sentenced to two years in prison on Monday by a Seoul court. • The court found Yoon guilty of illegally receiving free opinion polls in exchange for providing political support. • This verdict significantly increases the legal pressures on the already impeached leader, adding to a series of mounting legal troubles.

• A new Ipsos Sports poll of 1,027 adults, conducted June 26-28, indicates that the World Cup has increased interest in soccer among Americans despite the sport's ongoing struggle for mainstream popularity. • The data reveals that 8% of respondents have already attended a game or watch party in one of the host cities across the United States. • This trend is significant as it highlights the growing visibility of the sport and the U.S. Men's National Team (USMNT) ahead of major international competitions.

• A YouGov poll of 6,156 adults across six major European economies—France, Germany, Spain, Italy, the Netherlands, and Poland—reveals broad public support for carbon pricing. • The survey was commissioned by a coalition of civil society organizations, including E3G, WWF, and Carbon Market Watch, to advocate for a green industrial transition. • These findings challenge political calls to weaken the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) by demonstrating that citizens support climate action and industrial renewal.

• The Election Commission declared the April 29 polling void in 15 stations in Magrahat Paschim and Diamond Harbour constituencies in South 24 Parganas due to violence and disturbances. • Repolling is scheduled for May 2 from 7 am to 6 pm under strict monitoring to ensure a fair electoral process. • The decision addresses reports of disruptions that compromised the integrity of the vote in these areas.

Lack of ballot papers and defective computers disrupt election that Keiko Fujimori appears to be leadingPeruvians will have to wait at least until the end of Monday to know the result of the presidential election held on Sunday, after the voting process descended into chaos in some polling stations due to a lack of ballot papers or defective computers.In an unprecedented move, Peru’s electoral agency ONPE announced on Sunday night that it would extend voting for an extra day to allow tens of thousands of Peruvians in the country and abroad, who had been unable to vote, to cast their ballots. Continue reading...

Experts say paid participants are using automated tools to generate unreliable survey responses at scaleIf you had been keeping tabs on the news about church attendance in Britain lately, you would be forgiven for thinking the country was in the midst of a Christian revival.Stories of swelling congregations, filled with young people returning to the flock, spurred on by everything from social media to a rise in bible sales appeared to be confirmed by a 2024 report from the Bible Society. Continue reading...

The SA election result is devastating for the Liberals, but there are warning signs for Labor too in One Nation’s startling rise, which has rocked Australian politicsLabor secures overwhelming victory in SA electionRarely – perhaps never – has the winner of an election felt more like a subplot to a bigger and more consequential narrative than in South Australia on Saturday night.The ABC called the result for Peter Malinauskas and his Labor government less than 90 minutes after the polls closed, validating the opinion polls that had long forecast a landslide victory. Continue reading...