OPINION POLLS, VOTING AND DEMOCRACY

Thie introduction of opinion polls into the political process immediately set off reactions of approval and rejection. For some (those who are ''for''), Dolls improve the workings of democratic life by accurately capturing public opinion, while for others (these who are ''against''), polls are simply an up-to-date technique of political manipulation, or at least a scientifically dubious method of investigation The last French presidential election was marked by the omnipresence of preelectoral polls and by sharp criticism that was no less omnipresent. In order to understand the doggedness of this debate, pie must turn from the technical field proper to consider the fact that, via the debate on opinion polls, what is at issue is in fact a certain representation of legitimate political contest and, beyond, a certain vision of democracy. In effect, the practice of polling public opinion sharply brings to light the structural contradiction at the heart of democratic regimes.