The seventh and last phase of the Lok Sabha election 2024 will take place on June 1. As the election will conclude, all eyes will be on the exit polls to assess the outcome on June 4.
However, even before the conclusion of the seven phases of elections, opinion polls will be conducted where voters will be asked about who they are going to vote for, and the data will be analysed to curate the opinion of the public before the results. Meanwhile, exit polls are conducted immediately after voters leave polling stations. Voters will be asked which candidate or party they support.
What are the differences between exit and opinion polls?
•Opinion polls are carried out in the days, weeks, or even months preceding an election. These surveys are intended to gather feedback on political choices from the public. Exit polls are conducted by researchers who ask voters how they have voted just after they leave the polling station on poll day.
•A random sample of registered voters is frequently used in opinion polls to assess the preferences of the electorate. Meanwhile, exit polls collect data from voters immediately after they cast their ballots.
• The margin of error in opinion polls is determined by the representativeness and sample size. It is said that opinion polls have a larger margin of error than exit polls.
• Questions in opinion polls are based on the respondents plans to vote, preferred political parties, and, occasionally, a range of policy subjects. Exit poll surveys ask voters about their choices of candidates and variables influencing their choices.
The exit polls in India are subject to several laws, including Section 126A of the Representation of the People Act, 1951. "No person shall 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,” it reads.
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