Since 1981, ABC News and The Washington Post, both separately and together, have commissioned public opinion polls to collect information on the American public's attitudes and opinions on various issues. These surveys, conducted by Chilton Research Services until mid-1999 and subsequently by Taylor Nelson Sofres Intersearch, gather information in the form of monthly and special topic polls. Monthly polls solicit respondent information on the presidency and on a variety of other political and social issues. Special topic polls focus on specific events or issues that are of timely significance.
