The election for the 18th Lok Sabha will conclude on Saturday with voting on 57 seats in eight states of the country. After the election hangover, be it political parties or voters, everyone will start looking at the exit polls with keen eyes. As soon as the clock strikes six in the evening, the exit polls of various agencies will present claims of the victory or defeat of the parties. It has been seen that people are as curious about the exit poll results as they are about the final result. However, every exit poll has a different meaning. That is, as many people, so many opinions. But these results can entertain the mind for some time. Sometimes these surveys match the results, and sometimes they are opposite.

What is an Exit Poll and How Does It Work?

Actually, an exit poll is a survey conducted with voters when they come out of the polling booth during elections. In this, voters who come out after voting are asked which party or candidate they have voted for. In India, the Election Commission has banned the broadcasting of exit poll results on the day of voting. However, this ban does not apply to exit polls broadcast after the final voting.

Why Are They Released Only After the Last Phase of Voting?

Exit polls or surveys cannot be released immediately after the announcement of the schedule of Lok Sabha elections. It is believed that the results of exit polls can affect the election results. Therefore, exit polls can be released only half an hour after the voting ends in the evening after the last phase of voting. In fact, under section 126A of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, there is a ban on releasing exit polls till half an hour after the voting ends in the last phase. Violation can be punished with two years imprisonment, fine or both. There are provisions for many other penalties as well.

How Much is Spent on Exit Polls for Lok Sabha Elections?

Exit polls require time and money. Usually, conducting a poll costs three to five crore rupees. This expense depends on the sample size. The bigger the sample size, the more the expense increases. According to the agencies conducting exit polls, if the sample size is 60 thousand people, then it will cost three crore rupees.

How Many Were Proven Correct?

The results of the elections for the 17th Lok Sabha were declared on 23 May 2019. The exit poll predictions proved almost correct and the BJP came to power on its own for the second consecutive time. The BJP won the maximum number of 303 seats. The results of India TV-CNX, Times Now-VMR and Republic-C Voter proved correct. Congress won only 52 seats. Apart from this, 22 MPs of Trinamool Congress, 10 of BSP, 2 of CPI, 3 of CPI(M) and 5 of NCP won. After the election results, the BJP-led NDA government was formed with Narendra Modi as the Prime Minister.