Texas Standard for Oct. 31, 2022: Why polling isn’t always right, and what Texas has to do with it

The accuracy of political polling was called into question after the 2016 election. What national discrepancies led to that, including discrepancies in Texas?

By Texas StandardOctober 31, 2022 9:49 am,

Here are the stories on Texas Standard for Monday, Oct. 31, 2022:

Why polling isn’t always right, and what Texas has to do with it 

The accuracy of political polling was called into question after the 2016 election. What national discrepancies led to that, including discrepancies in Texas? Jeremy Wallace, political reporter for the Houston Chronicle and San Antonio Express-News, offers an explainer on polling. 

Texas counties varied approaches to Election Day voting centers

During early voting, Texans can cast a ballot at any polling location in their county. But on Election Day, some counties still use a precinct model requiring you to vote at a specific polling place. As Texas Tech Public Media’s Sarah Self-Walbrick explains, more and more counties are moving away from that. 

The Sounds of Texas 👻

Gloria Mendoza shares her experience leading ghost tours.

Spooky energy updates 

From prices at the pump to frightening geopolitical issues, our resident oil and gas expert Matt Smith shares his spookiest energy stories this Halloween. 

A surprising turn in Austin’s housing market

With a national housing shortage and skyrocketing interest rates, many folks predicted a “lock-in effect:” where homeowners would stay put for years to come. But the scene in Austin – which has been one of the nation’s hottest housing markets – seems to defy those predictions. Bloomberg Opinion writer Jonathan Levin has more.

Texas Public Radio’s ‘Justice Ignored’ series

Shawna Rogers died a year ago this month and her life and death highlighted the many ways Texas fails child victims of sex abuse. Reporter Paul Flahive has the story for Texas Public Radio’s Justice Ignored series, exploring that system.  

How do Texas voting laws compare with those of other states? 

For years, voting in Texas has been a hot-button political issue. So, what’s the truth? Mark Jones, fellow in political science at Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy, sheds some light. 

All this, plus the Texas Newsroom’s state roundup and Shelly Brisbin with the Talk of Texas.

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