Poll Predictions Paused

Srinagar, Sep 04: The Election Commission of India (ECI) has prohibited the conduct of any exit polls by media outlets during the Jammu and Kashmir assembly elections under Section 126 A of the Representation of the People Act, 1951.

According to the notification, the exit poll ban on election results starts from the beginning of hours fixed for a poll on the first day of the elections and continues till half an hour after the closing of elections in J&K.

The assembly polls are scheduled to commence on September 18 in 3 phases across J&K.

A notification issued on Wednesday said that the schedule for the elections to the Legislative Assemblies of Haryana and Jammu and Kashmir was announced by the Election Commission of India through press note No ECU/PN/128/2024 dated August 16, 2024, and press note No ECU/PN/132/2024 dated August 31.

Invoking Section 126 A of the Representation of the People Act, 1951 (R P Act, 1951), the notification emphasised that “no person should conduct any exit poll and publish or publicise using 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 ECI in this regard.”

The notification clarified that for subsection (1), the ECI should, by a general order, notify the date and time having due regard that in the case of a general election, the period may commence from the beginning of polling hours on the first day of polling and continue until half an hour after the closing of the poll in all states and union territories.

It said that in the case of a bye-election or multiple bye-elections held together, the period may commence from the beginning of polling hours on the first day of polling and continue until half an hour after the closing of the poll.

The notification said that if multiple bye-elections are held on different days, the period may commence from the beginning of polling hours on the first day and continue until half an hour after the closing of the last poll.

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

“Therefore, in exercise of the powers under sub-section (1) of Section 126 A of the R P Act, 1951, and considering the provisions of sub-section (2) of the same section, the ECI hereby notifies the period between 7 am on September 18, and 6:30 pm on October 5, as the period during which the conducting, publishing, or publicising of exit polls by any means, including print or electronic media, or dissemination in any other manner, should be prohibited in connection with the aforementioned general elections,” the notification said.

“Furthermore, it is clarified that under Section 126 (1) (b) of the R P 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 hours ending with the conclusion of polling in connection with the aforesaid general elections.”