Election Commission prohibits exit polls during J&K elections

The Election Commission of India (ECI) has prohibited the release of exit polls by any media outlet during the J&K Assembly elections under Section 126-A of the Representation of the People Act, 1951.

According to an official statement, the exit poll ban on election results starts from the beginning of hours fixed for voting on the first day of poll and continues till half an hour after the closing of the poll.

The J&K Assembly elections are scheduled to be held in three phases. The first phase of elections will be held on September 18 followed by second phase on September 25 and third phase on October 1.

Invoking Section 126A of the Representation of the People Act, 1951 (RP Act, 1951), the notification said “no person will conduct any exit poll and publish or publicise by means of the print or electronic media, or disseminate in any other manner whatsoever, the result of any exit poll during such period as may be notified by the Election Commission in this regard.”

The notification said any person who contravenes the provisions of this section will be punishable with imprisonment for a term that may extend to two years, or with a fine, or both.

The Election Commission hereby notifies the period between 7 am on September 18 (Wednesday) and 6:30 pm on October 5 (Saturday) as the period during which conducting, publishing or publicising of exit polls by any means, including print or electronic media, or dissemination in any other manner, shall be prohibited in connection with the aforementioned general elections.

It is clarified that under Section 126(1)(b) of the RP Act, 1951, displaying any election matter, including the results of any opinion poll or other poll survey, in any electronic media, is prohibited during the 48-hour period ending with the conclusion of polling in connection with the aforesaid general elections.