The Press Council of India has advised the media to strictly adhere to Section 126A of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, and its own guidelines on pre-poll and exit polls ahead of the upcoming General Elections. Emphasizing responsible reporting during the electoral period, the Council highlighted legal restrictions on conducting or publishing exit poll results. Violations of these rules could lead to imprisonment, a fine, or both for individuals.
The law prohibits the conduct, publication, or dissemination of exit polls through any media form during specified periods. For general elections, the restriction starts from the beginning of polling and extends until half an hour after polling concludes across all states and Union Territories. Similarly, for bye-elections, the restricted period begins from the start of polling and continues until half an hour after the last poll ends.
The Press Council emphasized the importance of transparency in pre-poll surveys, urging newspapers to disclose key details when publishing such surveys. These details include the organization conducting the survey, the commissioning entity, sample size, respondent selection methodology, and margin of error. The Council also expressed concerns about the impact of premature exit poll data release on staggered elections, potentially influencing voters in regions where polling is yet to occur.
To maintain the integrity of elections and prevent premature voter influence, the Press Council reiterated its guideline that no newspaper should publish exit poll surveys until the final phase of polling is completed. It urged all print media outlets to refrain from exit poll-related content during the specified restricted period, emphasizing the importance of upholding democratic sanctity and public trust in the media.
