Roper Roundtables
Evolution of Election Night Analysis and Projections
October 29, 2025, at 1:30 PM ET
Attention Cornell Community: Join us at 1:00 PM in 291 Clark Hall for refreshments, an introduction by Roper’s director, and a live viewing of the roundtable. Please register using the link below.
Abstract:
Have you ever wondered about the exit poll results and projections that you’ve seen broadcast during every major election night? Here is a chance to learn the current methods and how they evolved since 1967 by the people who designed them along with their personal stories and challenges.
Join Murray Edelman and Joe Lenski, the 2025 winners of the Warren J. Mitofsky Award for Excellence in Public Opinion Research, on October 29 at 1:30 PM ET for the next Roper Roundtable. Under the supervision of Lenski and Edelman, the major media collaborative exit poll series, now conducted by Edison Research for the National Election Pool, became the election survey of record in the U.S., producing rich data on how voters see candidates, campaigns, and current issues.
Edelman and Lenski will also be recognized at the 2025 Mitofsky Award event in New York City on Thursday, November 13th from 6-8pm for their individual careers and contributions to the field, including their joint work with Warren Mitofsky on exit polling and election analysis.
Past Roper Roundtables
Exploring the Most Important Problem Dataset
May 7, 2025
Laron Williams, Frederick A. Middlebush Chair of Political Science at the University of Missouri’s Truman School of Government and Public Affairs, discussed the second release of the Most Important Problem Dataset (MIPD), a valuable resource for researchers analyzing public opinion on the nation's most pressing issues.