Katie Couric's Notebook: Cell Phone Polls

In the age of ubiquitous mobile phones, landlines could be landmines for political polling.

The Pew Research Center reports a quarter of U.S. households have only cell phones in their homes.

The study indicates when only landlines are included in polls being conducted before the midterms, there's a clear advantage for Republicans.

That's probably because it's mostly younger people who have just a cell phone and they tend to favor Democrats.

But before you draw conclusions - hold the phone.

In the end, voter turnout decides elections.

In CBS News exit polls from the 2006 election, voters over the age of 60 made up 29 percent of the electorate - voters under 30 just 12 percent.

To keep control of Congress, candidates should heed the call...older Americans are a hot ticket this year and want to be heard.

They are more likely to head to the only poll that matters...the voting booth.

That's a page from my notebook.

I'm Katie Couric, CBS News.