I have recently acquired some sympathy for pollsters. And statisticians. As a medical student, I was required to undertake a subject called Medical Statistics and Human Genetics. It was a total mystery to me at the time, and has remained so for the whole of my career.

My polling expertise has developed as I stand by the roadside holding a “Vote Yes” sign and try to work out how it’s all going.

Like pollsters predicting the fate of the Nationals in a Victorian electorate, or statisticians advising on whether there’s room in the market for another “prostate support” multivitamin, it’s not easy.

Polling from the side of the road while holding the Yes sign requires making judgements on the voting intentions of drivers and passengers as they pass at 70km/h.