Lok Sabha Elections: What are Election Polls? Are exit polls banned in India? Are they correct? – What is an exit survey?

Posted On: May 21, 2024

May 21, 2024 4:35:14 PM IST

As voting for the 18th Lok Sabha elections is scheduled to end on June 1, discussions about polls are already underway. When voters are asked about their candidates as they leave the polling station, it is called an exit poll. Election results are predicted using election polls used around the world. The idea behind exit polls is that a voter is more likely to tell the truth if you ask them right after they leave the polling station because their memory is still fresh. It should be noted that the government never conducts election polls and there are various private agencies in India

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How are exit surveys conducted?

There is no single exit polling strategy that works for all polling groups. Instead, each has its own methodology and sample size. Both in-person and online exit surveys are possible. “Without a structured questionnaire, data cannot be coherently collected or systematically analyzed to arrive at vote share estimates,” said Sanjay Kumar, director of the Center for the Study of Developing Societies, in an article published in The Indian Express.

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Are exit polls banned in India?

While polling stations are not banned in India, the Election Commission of India has issued certain rules for their operation. Control over the use of election polls lies with the Electoral Commission. According to the ECI, election polls are only permitted within a certain period of time. This time window begins when polling stations close and ends 30 minutes after the last polling stations close. There will be no polling on election day or during the election period.

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Rules for election day polls in India

Additionally, the ECI states that election polls may not be published or broadcast in any part of India before the end of the voting period. This is to ensure that voters who have not yet cast their vote are not influenced by the results of the election polls. It is still not permitted to publish election polls until the final round of voting is completed. The ECI requires all media outlets conducting election polls to register with the Commission and also prohibits the publication of election polls. This is intended to ensure that voting is carried out impartially and equally. Media companies too

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Are exit polls accurate?

Despite numerous confirmations to the contrary, election polls have become increasingly popular in India over the past few decades. They have become an essential part of election reporting in the media and are considered a valuable tool for predicting election results. They simply provide a general indication of the voter's mood, which is then used to predict the election outcome. The official announcement of results by the Election Commission of India represents the final result, regardless of what election polls suggest.

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