---
title: "Video: How do polls work when no one answers the phone anymore?"
description: "Ever wonder how we collect our data? Today, most polls are conducted online. But, most pollsters reject the idea that “one size fits all” when it comes to polling, so we still use phone calls or mail to reach people."
date: "2026-02-11"
authors:
  - name: "Kim Arias"
    job_title: "Former Video Lead"
    link: "https://www.pewresearch.org/staff/kim-arias/"
  - name: "Sara Atske"
    job_title: "Digital Producer"
    link: "https://www.pewresearch.org/staff/sara-atske/"
  - name: "Courtney Kennedy"
    job_title: "Vice President, Methods and Innovation"
    link: "https://www.pewresearch.org/staff/courtney-kennedy/"
  - name: "Shannon Greenwood"
    job_title: "Former Digital Production Manager"
    link: "https://www.pewresearch.org/staff/shannon-greenwood/"
url: "https://www.pewresearch.org/methods/2026/02/11/video-how-do-polls-work-when-no-one-answers-the-phone-anymore/"
categories:
  - "Survey Methods"
---

# Video: How do polls work when no one answers the phone anymore?

Ever wonder how we collect our data? Today, most polls are conducted online. But, no method is totally out of the question. Most pollsters reject the idea that “one size fits all” when it comes to polling, so we still use phone calls or mail to reach people. To learn more about polling basics, watch our [Methods 101 video series](https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZ9z-Af5ISavJpPlvdMU4T-etIDOUmldk).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NY5rBWaPFF0