EXIT POLLS - POLITY
News: Exit
polls predict BJP win in Gujarat, close contest in Himachal Pradesh
What's in the news?
● Exit
polls have predicted that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is all set to retain
power in Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh, but may suffer a big jolt from the Aam
Aadmi Party (AAP) in the civic elections in Delhi.
● The
vote counting will be done on December 8.
Exit Polls:
● An
exit poll asks voters which political party they are supporting after they have
cast their votes in an election.
● It
differs from an opinion poll, which is
held before the elections.
● An
exit poll is supposed to give an indication of which way the winds are blowing
in an election, along with the issues, personalities, and loyalties that have
influenced voters.
Conducted by:
● Exit
polls in India are conducted by a number of organizations, often in tie-ups
with media organizations. The surveys can be conducted face to face or online.
● This
method is not new; it began back in 1957 during the second Lok Sabha elections
when the Indian Institute of Public Opinion conducted a poll.
Regulating exit polls:
● Seeking
an amendment to the Representation of People Act, 1951 to provide for a ban on
both exit and opinion polls during a period specified by the EC in 2004 had
approached the Law Ministry along with the endorsement of six national parties
and 18 state parties.
● The
recommendation was accepted in part, and in February 2010, restrictions were imposed only on exit polls through the introduction
of Section 126(A) in the Act.
● The
EC advises electronic and print media not to publish or publicize any article
or programme related to the dissemination of results of exit polls during the prohibited period.
What does ECI advisory say about rules for predicting
results?
● The
ECI is of the view that prediction of results of elections in any form or
manner by way of predictions etc by astrologers, political analysts or by any
persons during the prohibited period is violation of the spirit of Section 126A
(of the RP Act).
● It
aims to prevent the electors of constituencies still going to polls from being
influenced in their voting by such predictions about the prospects of the
various political parties.
● ECI,
in exercise of the powers under sub-section (1) of Section 126A of the RP Act,
1951 has notified the period during which conducting any exit poll is
prohibited.