Do you believe election polls? 7 things you must check
An article detailing the rules and legal obligations for publishing election polls in Israel, ahead of the elections for the 26th Knesset. The article reviews the meaning of the margin of error, the importance of the pollster's identity, the wording of questions, and the ban on publishing polls from midnight of October 23-24. It also includes principles of journalistic ethics and the impact of polls on public opinion.
An article by Moshe Cohen in Maariv, published on October 12, 2026, provides a comprehensive guide for the public on how to critically read election polls, ahead of the elections for the 26th Knesset. The article details the disclosure obligations set out in the Elections Law (Propaganda Methods), 1959, which include publishing the identity of the client, the identity of the pollster, the date of the poll, the sample size, the participation rate, and the margin of error. It explains that the margin of error refers to the statistical estimate and not to seats, and that a small gap between parties is not proof of a significant lead. The article refers to the ethics code of the Israeli Press and Media Council, which requires accuracy and reliability in presenting data, including headlines and graphs. It notes that the ban on publishing polls will apply from midnight of October 23-24 until the closing of the polls on October 27. It also discusses whether polls influence public opinion, noting a research controversy on the subject. The article emphasizes that a poll is not an official result and that the decision will only be made at the ballot box.