> In particularly heated elections, right-leaning voters begin to lie to pollsters about their voting intentions. They are embarrassed, or afraid, or skeptical

> In particularly heated elections, right-leaning voters begin to lie to pollsters about their voting intentions. They are embarrassed, or afraid, or skeptical about the pollster's intentions and honesty. You are in the right direction, but I think it's a bit not like that and not about lying, being afraid and being skeptical about pollster's intention. If people feel shame for their choice, they would try to avoid expressing it anywhere, participating in polls, etc., especially in front of their peers. In regions where most have opposing views and shame for choosing the other candidate, they will feel pressure to keep their choice to themselves and they won't in the regions where most support the same candidate. Being afraid of something is a completely different thing and generally prevents voters to even vote, not just avoid polls.