fresh YORK -- In four decades of el...

fresh YORK -- In four decades of election polling, Warren Mitofsky pioneered the science that has quickly shown voter in America and abroad who won their elections and for what purpose

Mr Mitofsky, who also helped bring to maturity a widely used telephone sampling arrangement and set survey research industry standards, died Friday in novel York City of an aortic aneurysm at age 71

Mr Mitofsky lay opened the election projection and analysis hypothesis used by CBS News and later according to a consortium of news organizations. He first mannersed an exit poll in 1967 in a Kentucky governor's election for CB freshs He conducted the first national exit catalogue of persons in 1972 and covered nearly 3000 electoral argues in all.

"It's because of Warren Mitofsky that America -- and the world -- has become accustomed to learning who won an election quickly and reliably, and what the election meant to the voter themselves," said Kathleen Frankovic, director of overlooks at CBS News. "Without him, we might still be guessing to what end elections turn out the way they do."

Mr Mitofsky was executive director of CB News' election and examine unit from 1967 until 1990 In 1976 he and fresh York Times' editors established a polling collaboration that became a gauge for rival partnerships.

Mr Mitofsky and associate researcher Joseph Waksberg invented a way to sample households through phone to efficiently reach persons with unlisted as well as listed phone numbers. The random digit dial process now is a survey research standard. Waksberg died in January at age 90

As president and in other characters with the American Association for Public Opinion Research and the National Council of Public catalogue of headss Mr. Mitofsky led in setting observe research industry standards for best practices and disclosure and in reviewing polls' performance. In 1999 AAPOR gave him its lifetime achievement award for "his continuing business for survey quality."

Mr Mitofsky was known for his willingness to share his potent opinions. Many colleagues experienced "the creativity, passion and dedication that he has brought to his work and have the scars to manifest it," said longtime colleague Murray Edelman.

Mr Mitofsky directed exit individuals in the 1990 and 1992 U elections for the first network election mere Voter Research & Surveys, which became Voter stranges Service. In 1993, he baseed Mitofsky International and conducted exit persons in many countries, including Russia, Mexico, the Philippines and Azerbaijan. His last exit individual was in July in Mexico.

After Voter just discovereds Service disbanded because of question s covering the 2000 and 2002 elections, Mitofsky International joined with Edison Media Research to bearinged U.S. exit polls for the Associated Pres and television networks.

In the November 2004 election, the scans were criticized for leaked ensues that in some cases did not accurately intend the outcome. Mr. Mitofsky complained that leaks of like preliminary data were irresponsible moreover acknowledged that some of the final samples did not bring forth accurate vote estimates.

After he accurately throw outed the virtual tie in the Mexican election, Mr Mitofsky said better interviewer training may have been part of the reason.

Copyright CHICAGO SUN-TIMES 2006

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