Exit Polling Cut Back to Just 31 States

Exit polling that has been conducted in all 50 states for the last 20 years will be limited this year to just 31. The National Election Pool, a group made up of the Associated Press and the major television networks, is making the change due to high costs, The Washington Post reported.

Early voting now already underway in some states is also responsible for the cutbacks. Instead of interviewing people at voting locations, early voters must be contacted by phone, a more expensive option.

The states cut from the list are generally ones that are either solid for Barack Obama or Mitt Romney. The Post reported them as: Alaska, Arkansas, Delaware, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Kentucky, Louisiana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, West Virginia and Wyoming. Also excluded is the District of Columbia.

The data collected provides a portrait of who is supporting an individual candidate and is used by both new organizations that subscribe to the service and researchers.