Whitehorse Daily Star

Vote results differed from pre-election poll

A last-minute election poll carried out by DataPath Systems seemed somewhat inaccurate in predicting the results of Monday’s territorial election, though that’s being disputed by company owner Donna Larsen.

By Tim Giilck on April 16, 2021

A last-minute election poll carried out by DataPath Systems seemed somewhat inaccurate in predicting the results of Monday’s territorial election, though that’s being disputed by company owner Donna Larsen.

On the evening of April 8, the company released information indicating the election would be close, which it was – but it forecast a potential Yukon Party government being voted in.

According to the poll, among Whitehorse voters, the Yukon Party was polling ahead of the Liberal party 46 per cent to 30 per cent, with the NDP trailing at 25 per cent.

The DataPath poll predicted the Liberals would be stronger in the rural areas than the Yukon Party.

“The Liberal party candidates slightly stronger than the Yukon Party (41 per cent to 38 per cent),” the company said in an email.

“If the Yukon Party were to sweep all the Whitehorse ridings, which may be unlikely, they would win in up to 11 ridings. If the Liberal party were to sweep the communities, (again, somewhat unlikely), they could capture up to eight ridings.”

While the popular vote numbers were in the proper general range, the outcome was vastly different, as the Liberals and NDP captured most of the ridings.

Yukon Party Leader Currie Dixon and candidate Yvonne Clarke won seats in the city, but that was it.

That didn’t dampen Larsen’s enthusiasm.

“I was pretty excited about the results,” she said earlier this week.

The poll indicated the Yukon Party was strong amongst those most worried about the economy.

“It’s all about the economy,” it said.

“The Yukon Party strength is less the result of negative ratings for the past Liberal party performance than it is a concern for the future of the Yukon economy.

“Overall, 34 per cent of the respondents rated the past performance of the Liberal party a 4 or 5, on a 5-point scale – which is higher than those scores have been over the past 10 years.

“However, when it comes to rating the state of the Yukon economy, among those planning to vote for the Yukon Party, 79 per cent rate the economy as being in serious or critical condition. This compares to only 16 per cent among Liberal Party voters,” DataPath said.

“In addition, 74 per cent of Yukon Party voters ranked the economy as the most important issue facing the territory, while the leading issue among Liberal voters was the Environment/Climate Change (57 per cent).

“Among Yukon Party voters, 63 per cent reported feeling that they were worse (somewhat or much worse off) off compared to last year, while only nine per cent of Liberal voters felt worse off.”

A total of 425 surveys were completed online, using the DataPath Yukon panel of respondents.

Respondents have been randomly recruited over the past 20 years, using phone, in-person and email.

“Our results were well within the range of error,” Larsen said.

Comments (11)

Up 10 Down 1

Tell me again about the good old days... Up hill both ways... on Apr 19, 2021 at 10:41 pm

Hello Charlie’s Aunt - You are technically correct. However, a postal code with one or two other bits of information gleaned from the survey is enough to reveal ones identity. Especially in a small, relatively closed environment like - Whitehorse.

As management in YG it was really quite a simple thing for us to figure out who said what in a “confidential” survey by the language and the ideas used to respond to the survey. We would use the information to target dissenters. It’s not rocket science.
Confidentiality - Hahaha.... LOL... LMAO! Smile - You’re on candid survey!

Up 6 Down 1

Charlie's Aunt on Apr 19, 2021 at 1:17 pm

@ Juniper; Your postal code does not pin point your house, it only reveals which side or part of a particular street you live on.

Up 14 Down 10

Woodcutter on Apr 19, 2021 at 10:03 am

@juniper.. we are in Canada, we have postal codes, not zip codes.
Poor Al, can't get a job, yet us immigrants get 2 or 3 jobs at a time. Perhaps it's your indoctrination in all things conservative?

Up 9 Down 6

TheHammer on Apr 18, 2021 at 3:36 pm

A calculation like that could influence undecided voters. People like to follow the winner. This is what is in question. In fact, it could have influenced the election outcome. My calculation (without the fake prophecy} would tip the scales for the liberals. Just an opinion.

Up 22 Down 5

Bingo on Apr 18, 2021 at 10:26 am

@Al....not sure why you are living in poverty....googled “yuWin” and there were at least 10 pages with 20 decent paying jobs from a variety of employers.

Up 9 Down 16

Josey Wales on Apr 18, 2021 at 9:20 am

Hey Observer...your participation suggests perhaps take off the lens covers on whatever optics you "see" things through?
or change up your moniker to say...Libservant ?

Life Liberty & the pursuit of happiness are not partisan concepts, or just Yankee script. The script of first world free people(s)!
Sheep need sheepdogs to keep predators at bay.
Predators come in many forms, you reek of sheep feces AND Zyklon B.
... too "blind" to see/understand if my type is a sheepdog or predator.

hint...I loathe folks getting fleeced, and do my best to actually "observe" with eyes WIDE open. Put down the shears/shower caps you only fool the stupid/naïve...fine line separates.
If your lens caps are alleged to be "off" I suggest a nitrogen recharge "Observer"
The fog of political correctness, commi clouds, fecal mist...dunno?
Oh yeah, say hi to the Doc at your next ritual. Your cult does rituals I'd imagine too?
What cult? Why the SS clearly...only 997 years shy of their goal at time of participation. Once they scour the lands in Old Crow for lost (alleged legit) votes...oops I meant a "recount".. over the weekend, may continue...onto Poland, fuel up the Bismarck...get back to "lurking" under the surface in their ideological pursuits of suicide via self proclaimed virtue.

look forward to you regurgitating a post processed thought, or few on what you "may have" Observed here in this my participation.

Up 14 Down 23

Observer on Apr 17, 2021 at 10:21 am

I have never taken this polling seriously, they obviously poll a lot of cons and that has never changed since they started. It is the con poll nothing more.

Up 13 Down 25

Al on Apr 17, 2021 at 8:21 am

I was told as a kid all things conservative were good. Then I became poor.
I did everything they told me to. Don't do drugs, don't get a girl pregnant, do go to university, do get good grades.. only I can't get a proper job after all that. And all the people who gave me advice thought it was my fault. They couldn't say where or how?

I will now consider myself a smarter voter who educated himself on the issue. I noticed candidates speaking ill of certain groups. I take advice but they're perfectly happy to let me rot in poverty.

Up 18 Down 9

Juniper Jackson on Apr 16, 2021 at 5:43 pm

There were so many surveys out for this election. I had at least 6 calls. People get tired of them and just start having a little fun. Plus, i have no confidence that polls and surveys are confidential in the least. Your zip code tells them exactly what house you live in. They telephone? They have a number. Email surveys, well.. duh..who am I? Whether the company doing the survey releases the contact data, i do not know. What I do know, is that privacy/confidentiality is a total joke. Oxymoron anyone? "A Confidential Survey" or another good one? "Social Distancing."

Up 48 Down 6

Dick on Apr 16, 2021 at 3:24 pm

Polls. What a waste of time and money. Only there to influence voters, to vote a certain way. And who pays for this nonsense, we do.

Up 36 Down 7

Jason on Apr 16, 2021 at 3:22 pm

If you squint really hard you'll see that I was right!

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