On Monday, November 6, HopNews invited readers to answer three questions about the upcoming Special Town Meeting (STM). The poll is now closed, and the results are published below.

First, please take a moment to read our note on the limitations of this poll and how the results should be interpreted.

The questions posed in the survey were:

1. Do you plan to attend the Special Town Meeting on November 13?
2. If you had to vote today, would you vote to approve Article 1: To approve construction of a new Elmwood School?
3. If you had to vote today, would you vote to approve Article 2: A citizens petition to eliminate partisan elections in Hopkinton?

While there are four articles up for consideration at STM, we chose to ask about the first two as they are likely to generate the most debate.

Overwhelmingly, our readers say they plan to attend STM. This is not altogether unsurprising, given that in year’s past Town Meeting receives a higher turnout when a school vote is needed.

On Article 1, more than 50% of readers said they would vote against the Elmwood School Replacement Project if they had to vote today. While this may seem like a toss-up, readers are reminded that the vote must carry by 66.6% for passage.

Article 2, which considers eliminating partisan elections in Hopkinton, appears to enjoy broad support from HopNews readers.

If the results are accurate, the Select Board, School Committee, and Elmwood School Building Committee face strong headwinds next Monday night. How effectively they can turn out the their supporters remains to be seen.

Understanding Our Reader Poll: A Note on Interpretation

First and foremost, we want to thank everyone who participated and shared their views. Your input is invaluable to us and helps to enrich our community discussions.

However, it’s important to acknowledge certain aspects of this poll. While we value every response, it’s crucial to understand that this poll is not scientifically valid. Unlike professional surveys, our poll does not use randomized sampling methods. This means the results might not accurately represent the broader population.

Here are a few key points to consider:

1. Self-Selection Bias: Participants in our poll chose to respond, which may lead to a skew in the results. Typically, people with strong opinions on a subject are more likely to participate, which might not reflect the more moderate or diverse views of the larger community.
2. Limited Reach: Our poll primarily reaches HopNews readers, a fantastic but specific group of individuals. Therefore, the results might reflect the views of our readership more than the general public.
3. Lack of Randomization: Scientific polls often use random sampling to ensure every potential respondent has an equal chance of being selected. This process helps in getting a more representative sample of a population. Our poll does not utilize such methods, so it’s skewed towards those who are online and engaged with our site.

In light of these points, we encourage our readers to interpret the poll results with caution. They offer a glimpse into the perspectives of a segment of our audience but may not fully represent the broader population’s views.

We hope this explanation helps in understanding the context and limitations of our poll. As always, we are committed to bringing you diverse perspectives and encouraging open, informed discussions among our readers.