Voters must do their homework Iwas shocked to find that according to a recent CBS news poll, 31 percent of registered voters said they are more likely to vote for a candidate based solely on the fact that that candidate is endorsed by Oprah Winfrey. Elections appear to be a breeding ground for polls and statistics, many of which can be deceiving. Gallup polls and U.S. Census data are usually pretty reliable, but you should still be cautious. If you find a statistic that shocks you; research it. Try to find the actual numbers and analyze the wording. For example, only 25 percent of the 1,214 respondents in the CBS news poll were Republicans. The poll was conducted online, so obviously only those with Internet access and those who favor CBS over other news networks would respond to it. As for the wording, the statement reads verbatim "31 percent of registered voters say that most people they know would be more likely to vote for Barack Obama for president because Oprah has endorsed him … " implying that while the respondents of the poll may be registered voters, all of the people that they know are not necessarily registered voters. It all boils down to doing your homework. I know we choose a leader so they can make decisions for us, but it is our civic duty to do all we can to choose the best leader. Stay updated with the election. Register to vote. It is your right to choose whether you vote or not, however it is only a respectable decision if you have a legitimate reason for not). I ask you to research the election, encourage your friends to research, be skeptical of statistics until you fully understand them, and finally help us choose the best candidate to guide our nation through this time of war, environmental destruction, and civil injustice. Nick Alexander Holmdel