ASSESSING THE UNRELIABILITY OF ONLINE POLITICAL POLLS: A NOVEL SOFTWARE FOR VOTING APPROACH

In recent years, the utilization of online polls for political opinion sampling has become prevalent due to their cost-effectiveness and rapid deployment. However, their reliability is frequently questioned due to vulnerabilities inherent in their digital nature. This study explores the susceptibility of online polls to manipulation, examining the efficacy of various security measures employed across 160 online polling platforms during the 2024 municipal elections in Turkey. Through automated voting on these platforms, which encompassed a total of 10,000 votes, significant security flaws were uncovered. The findings reveal that while measures such as CAPTCHA, digital fingerprint, and IP validation offer some resistance, they are not foolproof. It is concluded that the most robust method involves verifying users via the e-government platform, enhancing both the credibility and integrity of online polls. This study not only highlights the vulnerabilities of current online polling practices but also provides a roadmap for enhancing security to better reflect genuine public opinion and foster more trustworthy political decision-making processes.