EC curbs on exit, opinion polls

The Election Commission on Tuesday banned dissemination of results of opinion and exit polls during the 48-hour period till the polling ends in case of singlephase election. It also banned exit polls till the last lap in the event of multi-phase elections. The EC’s move comes against the backdrop of the Supreme Court leaving it to the discretion of the commission to decide on laying down guidelines on opinion and exit polls till the government frames regulations on the issue. The commission had a couple of years ago banned the telecast, publication or broadcast of exit polls during polls till the final phase of voting but media houses approached the apex court after which the order was revoked. The commission had asked the court to decide whether there should be a reasonable restriction in publication and dissemination of results of opinion polls and exit polls during certain specified periods during the election process. The government had in October last decided to amend the Representation of the People Act, 1951, to curb publication of exit polls during elections till the conclusion of the final phase of voting so that it does not “influence” the voters. The government’s move to amend the RPA is seen as an effort to ensure that polls, which are generally spread over several phases, are free and fair. “No result of any opinion or exit poll conducted at any time shall be published, publicized or disseminated in any manner by print, electronic or any other media at any time during the period of 48 hours ending with the hour fixed for closing of poll in an election held in a single phase,” the EC said. “In a multi-phased election and in the case of elections in different states announced simultaneously,” the EC barred dissemination of opinion and exit polls by the media “at any time during the period starting from 48 hours before the hour fixed for closing of poll in the first phase of the election and till the poll is concluded in all the phases in all states”, the guidelines said. The electronic media includes government and private radio and television networks and covers satellite, DTH, terrestrial and cable channels. Dissemination includes publication in any newspaper, magazine or periodical or display on electronic media or circulation by means of any pamphlet, poster, placard, handbill or any other document, the EC said.