AP US Government · Data analysis
A survey of likely voters reproduces the age distribution of reported voters in the table rather than the age distribution of the entire…
Age composition of the citizen voting-age population and reported voters, 2020
| Age | Share of citizen voting-age population | Share of reported voters |
|---|---|---|
| 18-29 | 20.3% | 16.5% |
| 30-44 | 24.0% | 23.2% |
| 45-64 | 32.6% | 34.7% |
| 65 and older | 23.0% | 25.7% |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Current Population Survey, November 2020. Percentages are shares of the citizen voting-age population and of reported voters; values may not sum to 100 because of rounding.
A survey of likely voters reproduces the age distribution of reported voters in the table rather than the age distribution of the entire citizen voting-age population. Which statement is most accurate?
Answer and explanation
Answer: C: The survey may appropriately represent the likely-voter population while still differing from the demographic composition of all voting-age citizens
A likely-voter survey has a different target population than all voting-age citizens, so matching the age mix of reported voters can be appropriate while differing from the citizen population. C is correct. Choice A is tempting because representativeness matters, but polls need not mirror every resident or eligible citizen. Choice B overclaims, since matching turnout patterns does not guarantee an accurate prediction. Choice D says uneven age distribution eliminates margins of error, which is false; sampling error can still be estimated.
More Data analysis questions
- Question 4Which age group is most underrepresented among reported voters relative to its share of the…
- Question 5Which conclusion is best supported by the table?
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