Exit Polls

In news: As voting for Gujarat elections ends today, exit polls will be out by the evening.

What are Exit polls:

• An exit poll asks voters which political party they are supporting.
• It is held after voters have cast their votes in an election; while an opinion poll, is held before the elections.
• An exit poll gives an indication of which way the winds are blowing in an election, along with the issues, personalities, and loyalties that have influenced voters.
• Exit polls in India are conducted by a number of organisations, often in tie-ups with media organisations. The surveys can be conducted face to face or online.

Factors of a good exit poll:

• A sample size that is both large and diverse
• A clearly constructed questionnaire without an overt bias – so that data can be collected coherently and analysed systematically to arrive at vote share estimates.
• Political parties often allege that these polls are motivated, or financed by a rival party. Critics also say that the results gathered in exit polls can be influenced by the choice, wording and timing of the questions, and by the nature of the sample drawn.

Rules in India:

• In 1957, during the second Lok Sabha elections, the Indian Institute of Public Opinion had conducted such a poll.
• In India, results of exit polls for a particular election are not allowed to be published till the last vote has been cast.
• Exit polls can’t be telecast from before voting begins till the last phase concludes

Source: Indianexpress

Previous Year Questions

Q.1) Consider the following statements: (2017)

1. In the election for Lok Sabha or State Assembly, the winning candidate must get at least 50 percent of the votes polled, to be declared elected.
2. According to the provisions laid down in the Constitution of India, in Lok Sabha, the Speaker’s post goes to the majority party and the Deputy Speaker’s to the Opposition.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1. 1. 1 only
   2. 2 only
   3. Both 1 and 2
   4. Neither 1 nor 2