JAMMU KASHMIR: The Election Commission of India (ECI) has announced a ban on exit polls during the upcoming assembly elections in Haryana and Jammu & Kashmir. This prohibition will be in effect from 7:00 AM on September 18 to 6:30 PM on October 5, the final day of polling.
The Jammu & Kashmir assembly elections will take place in three phases on September 18, September 25, and October 1. Haryana will hold its assembly elections in a single phase on October 5, with the results for both states scheduled to be declared on October 8.
The ECI notification outlines that, under Section 126A of the Representation of the People's Act (RP Act), 1951, the publication or dissemination of exit polls by any media or other means is strictly prohibited during the election period. This regulation aims to prevent undue influence on voters during the polling process.
What Are Exit Polls? Exit polls are predictions based on voter feedback collected immediately after they cast their ballots. While these polls offer insights into public sentiment, their accuracy has been debated in the past. The Election Commission allows the publication of exit polls only 30 minutes after the final vote has been cast.
Additionally, Section 126(1)(b) of the RP Act restricts the display of any election-related content, including opinion polls, on electronic media within 48 hours of the end of polling. Violations of these provisions can result in imprisonment for up to two years, a fine, or both.
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