About polling, I have heard commentaries that some voters see supposed polling information indicating that their preferred candidate is not doing well and then are discouraged from voting, thinking their vote will not make a difference and not change the outcome. Every vote counts.

Doug, in Oz the voting statistics usually show very low informal vote, and slightly more donkey votes. The statistical tables show mostly less than 5% of all votes on both categories combined.

Definition: Informal vote

"The figures show that nearly half of all informal votes were the result of some kind of incorrect numbering. This suggests that these informal votes were accidental. Similarly, another quarter of all informal votes contained ticks and crosses, suggesting confusion about the voting system.

"Blank ballots and those with writing on them made up 26% of informal votes. These are most likely to have been deliberate."

"Definition: A donkey vote occurs when an elector simply numbers the ballot paper from top to bottom (or bottom to top) without regard to the logic of the preference allocation.

"A donkey vote is counted as a valid vote because it contains a number “1” and has numbered every square in sequential order."