Ipsos conducts the Reuters/Ipsos tracking poll and other political surveys using online panels. High frequency is the selling point: new national numbers often appear weekly during election years.

Strengths

Large samples and consistent question wording make it easy to spot gradual shifts in congressional preference or presidential approval, useful background for midterm forecasting models.

Weaknesses

Online panels may underrepresent certain demographics unless carefully weighted. Weekly changes of one or two points often fall inside the margin of error and should not be hyped as dramatic swings.

2026 practice

Use Ipsos/Reuters for trend lines over months, not for calling Ossoff vs. Mike Collins in Georgia. Layer state polls on top when assessing battleground Senate seats.