Franklin & Marshall College Poll
| Company type | Non-profit, non-partisan |
|---|---|
| Industry | Public opinion research |
| Founded | 1992 |
| Founder | Terry Madonna, Berwood Yost |
| Headquarters | Lancaster , United States |
Area served | Pennsylvania, United States |
Key people | Berwood Yost (Director), Stephen Medvic (Center for Politics and Public Affairs Director) |
| Parent | Franklin & Marshall College |
The Franklin & Marshall College Poll—previously known as the Keystone Poll—is a Pennsylvania-based opinion poll widely regarded across the nation for its trustworthy insights into Pennsylvania’s political landscape, public policy issues, and electoral trends.
Its roots trace back to a 1991 survey conducted during the United States Senate special election in Pennsylvania, 1991, which featured Democrat Harris Wofford and former Governor Dick Thornburgh. Officially established in 1992 as the Keystone Poll at Millersville University of Pennsylvania, it was directed by Terry Madonna with Berwood Yost serving as lead methodologist. When both Madonna and Yost joined Franklin & Marshall College in Lancaster, Pennsylvania in 2003, the poll was relocated there. The poll underwent rebranding in 2008 as the Franklin & Marshall College Poll and broadened its scope to include national opinion research for 29 Hearst-Argyle television stations along with other media partners.
Throughout its history, the poll’s results have been disseminated via multiple media platforms. It initially appeared in the Philadelphia Daily News and on KYW-TV. Subsequently, Fox 29 took over from KYW-TV, with additional publication through the Harrisburg Patriot News and Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. In 2002, Comcast Network replaced Fox 29 as a distributor. Presently, the poll is shared statewide through outlets including WPVI-TV, WGAL-TV, WTAE-TV, and Times-Shamrock Communications.
The F&M Poll is administered by the Center for Opinion Research at Franklin & Marshall College, operating as a non-profit and non-partisan entity. Following Terry Madonna’s retirement, Berwood Yost assumed leadership of the poll and works in close partnership with Stephen Medvic, who directs F&M’s Center for Politics and Public Affairs.
See also
- Quinnipiac University Polling Institute
- Emerson College Polling
- Suffolk University Political Research Center
- Siena Research Institute
- Monmouth University Polling Institute
- Marist Institute for Public Opinion