The Election Commission of India (ECI) has announced a strict prohibition on the conduct of exit polls during the upcoming 2024 Jammu and Kashmir Assembly Elections. This restriction is enforced under Section 126A of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, and applies to all media outlets.
Exit Poll Ban Details
According to the ECI notification, the ban on exit polls will begin at the start of polling hours on the first day and will continue until half an hour after the polling ends in Jammu and Kashmir. The Assembly Elections in the Union Territory are scheduled to commence on September 18, 2024, and will be conducted in three phases.
Official Notification and Dates
The notification issued by the ECI today also highlighted that the schedule for the General Elections to the Legislative Assemblies of both Haryana and Jammu & Kashmir was previously announced in the following press notes:
Press Note No. ECU/PN/128/2024: Dated August 16, 2024
Press Note No. ECU/PN/132/2024: Dated August 31, 2024
Provisions of Section 126A
The ban, as per Section 126A of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, prohibits any person from conducting exit polls or disseminating their results through print, electronic media, or any other means. The specific period for which this ban applies is to be notified by the ECI.
General and Bye-Election Restrictions
The notification also clarified the following points:
- For a general election, the prohibition starts from the beginning of polling hours on the first day and continues until half an hour after the closing of polls in all States and Union Territories.
- For bye-elections or multiple bye-elections held together, the ban period begins at the start of polling hours on the first day and continues until half an hour after polling ends.
- If multiple bye-elections are conducted on different days, the ban period will extend from the start of the first day’s polling until half an hour after the last poll closes.
Penalties for Violation
The ECI notification warned that any violation of the provisions under Section 126A could result in imprisonment for up to two years, a fine, or both.
Prohibited Period for Exit Polls
In accordance with the powers under Section 126A of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, the ECI has declared the period between 7:00 A.M. on September 18, 2024, and 6:30 P.M. on October 5, 2024, as the time frame during which conducting, publishing, or publicizing any exit polls by any means is strictly prohibited.
Restrictions on Opinion Polls
In addition, the ECI clarified that, as per Section 126(1)(b) of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, any display of election-related matter, including results of opinion polls, in electronic media is prohibited during the 48-hour period preceding the conclusion of polling.
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