Assembly Elections | Exit Polls Of JK Be Published After 6:00 PM On October 5: ECI

Assembly Elections | Exit Polls Of JK Be Published After 6:00 PM On October 5: ECI

Ashiq Butt | October 1, 2024 | 04:42 PM IST | Elections 2024, Jammu Kashmir | Follow on Google News

Assembly Elections | Exit Polls Of JK Be Published After 6:00 PM On October 5: ECI

Assembly Elections | Exit Polls Of JK Be Published After 6:00 PM On October 5: ECI

Key Highlights:

1. Exit poll results banned for release before 6 PM on October 5, 2024.
2. Violation may result in legal penalties, including fines and imprisonment.
3. All media, political entities, and individuals must comply with Section 126A.

In accordance with guidelines issued by the Election Commission of India (ECI) on August 31, 2024 (Press Note No. ECI/PN/132/2024), all media outlets, polling agencies, and individuals are prohibited from publishing or broadcasting exit poll results related to the Jammu and Kashmir elections before 6 PM on October 5, 2024. This restriction falls under Section 126A of the Representation of the People Act, 1951.

The ban applies to all forms of media, including print, electronic, and digital platforms, as well as social media services such as WhatsApp, Facebook, Telegram, YouTube, and Instagram. Political parties, candidates, and polling agencies are also bound by this rule.

Failure to comply with the regulation can result in legal consequences, including fines and imprisonment, as stated in the Act.

To ensure compliance, the Chief Electoral Office of Jammu and Kashmir, along with District Election Officers, Returning Officers, and law enforcement agencies, will monitor activities. Any breaches will be addressed strictly in line with legal procedures.

This measure aims to preserve the integrity of the electoral process by preventing any influence on voters that could arise from the premature release of exit poll predictions.

By enforcing this restriction, the ECI seeks to ensure that voters make their choices based on their own judgments rather than on speculative analyses of election outcomes.

All concerned, including media houses, polling agencies, and social media platforms, are urged to follow the guidelines and avoid sharing exit poll results before the designated time.

Ashiq Butt

Ashiq Butt – is VoM News's senior staffer worked since year 2015 and he deals with correspondency and social media handles. Hailing from Doda's Marmat, Ashiq has strong grip over the collection of the data and it's compiling feature.