## Report on Election Commission of India Notification Regarding Exit Polls and Opinion Polls
**1. Executive Summary:**
This report analyzes a notification issued by the Election Commission of India (ECI) on March 24, 2021, regarding restrictions on exit polls and the display of election-related matter, including opinion polls. The notification prohibits conducting and publicizing exit polls between 7:00 A.M. on March 27, 2021, and 7:30 P.M. on April 29, 2021, in connection with the General Elections and Bye-elections. It also clarifies the existing prohibition on displaying election matter, including opinion polls, in electronic media during the 48 hours leading up to the conclusion of polling. This notification aims to ensure free and fair elections by preventing the influence of poll results on voters.
**2. Introduction:**
This report provides an informative analysis of the Election Commission of India's notification dated March 24, 2021, concerning restrictions on exit polls and the display of election-related matter during specified periods. The analysis is based solely on the text of the provided notification.
**3. Policy Overview:**
This is a new policy specifying time periods for prohibiting exit polls, as authorized under The Representation of the People Act, 1951.
* **Core Objective(s):** Based on the text, the core objective is to regulate the dissemination of exit poll results and election-related matter (including opinion polls) to prevent potential influence on voters during elections and bye-elections. This directly supports the goal of free and fair elections.
**4. Background and Rationale:**
* **New Policy:** The notification addresses the potential impact of exit polls and election-related surveys on voter behavior. By restricting the publication and dissemination of such information, the ECI aims to ensure that voters are not unduly influenced by perceived trends or predictions, thereby preserving the integrity of the electoral process. The concern likely stems from the possibility that voters might change their preferences or abstain from voting based on the perceived outcomes suggested by polls.
**5. Key Provisions / Changes:**
* **New Policy:** This notification establishes a specific timeframe for the prohibition of exit polls:
* **Prohibition Period:** From 7:00 A.M. on March 27, 2021, to 7:30 P.M. on April 29, 2021. During this period, conducting any exit poll and publishing or publicizing its results via any medium (print, electronic, or other) is strictly prohibited.
* **Applicability:** This prohibition applies to the General Elections to the Legislative Assemblies of Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, and Puducherry, as well as the bye-elections to various Parliamentary and Assembly Constituencies.
* **Clarification on Opinion Polls:** The notification reiterates the existing provision under Section 126(1)(b) of the R.P. Act, 1951, which prohibits the display of any election matter, including results of any opinion poll or any other poll survey, in any electronic media, during the period of 48 hours ending with the hours fixed for conclusion of poll in the respective polling areas.
**6. Target Audience and Stakeholders:**
Based on the provided text, the primary target audience and stakeholders include:
* **Media Organizations (Print, Electronic, and Online):** These organizations are directly affected by the restrictions on publishing and disseminating exit poll results and election-related matter.
* **Polling Agencies:** These agencies are prohibited from conducting and releasing exit poll results during the specified period.
* **Political Parties and Candidates:** While not explicitly mentioned, the policy indirectly affects political parties and candidates as it aims to create a level playing field by preventing the potential manipulation of voter opinion.
* **Voters:** The ultimate beneficiaries of this policy are the voters, as it seeks to ensure that they make their choices based on their own assessment of the candidates and issues, rather than being influenced by poll predictions.
**7. Implementation Aspects (Inferred):**
* **Responsible Agency/Bodies:** The Election Commission of India (ECI) is the responsible body for implementing and enforcing this notification.
* **Timelines:** The notification clearly specifies the period during which the restrictions apply (March 27, 2021, to April 29, 2021).
* **Enforcement:** The R.P. Act, 1951, provides the legal basis for enforcing these restrictions. Violations of Section 126A are punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to two years, or with fine, or with both.
**8. Expected Outcomes / Impact of Changes:**
* **New Policy:** The likely intended outcomes of this notification are:
* Reduced influence of exit polls on voter behavior, particularly in the later phases of the election.
* A more level playing field for candidates and parties, as voters are less likely to be swayed by perceived trends.
* Enhanced integrity of the electoral process by preventing the manipulation of voter opinion through selective dissemination of poll results.
* Greater voter autonomy and a more informed electorate.
**9. Conclusion:**
The Election Commission of India's notification regarding restrictions on exit polls and the display of election-related matter is a significant measure aimed at ensuring free and fair elections. By prohibiting the conduct and publication of exit polls during a specified period and reiterating the existing restrictions on opinion polls, the ECI seeks to protect voters from undue influence and safeguard the integrity of the electoral process. This notification impacts media organizations, polling agencies, political parties, and, ultimately, the voters. While the text provides specific prohibitions and timeframes, enforcement relies on the existing legal framework of the Representation of the People Act, 1951.
Key Entities Referenced
Election Commission of India: The organization that announced the election schedule and issued the notification.
Assam: State in India where General Elections to the Legislative Assembly were announced.
Kerala: State in India where General Elections to the Legislative Assembly and by-elections were announced.
Tamil Nadu: State in India where General Elections to the Legislative Assembly and by-elections were announced.
West Bengal: State in India where General Elections to the Legislative Assembly were announced.
Puducherry: Union Territory in India where General Elections to the Legislative Assembly were announced.
Malappuram Parliamentary Constituency, Kerala: Parliamentary constituency in Kerala where by-elections were announced.
Kanniyakumari Parliamentary Constituency, Tamil Nadu: Parliamentary constituency in Tamil Nadu where by-elections were announced.
Tirupati SC Parliamentary Constituency, Andhra Pradesh: Parliamentary constituency in Andhra Pradesh where by-elections were announced.
Belgaum Parliamentary Constituency, Karnataka: Parliamentary constituency in Karnataka where by-elections were announced.
Morva Hadaf ST Assembly Constituency, Gujarat: Assembly constituency in Gujarat where by-elections were announced.
Madhupur Assembly Constituency, Jharkhand: Assembly constituency in Jharkhand where by-elections were announced.
Basavakalyan Assembly Constituency, Karnataka: Assembly constituency in Karnataka where by-elections were announced.
Maski ST Assembly Constituency, Karnataka: Assembly constituency in Karnataka where by-elections were announced.
Damoh Assembly Constituency, Madhya Pradesh: Assembly constituency in Madhya Pradesh where by-elections were announced.
Pandharpur Assembly Constituency, Maharashtra: Assembly constituency in Maharashtra where by-elections were announced.
Serchhip ST Assembly Constituency, Mizoram: Assembly constituency in Mizoram where by-elections were announced.
Noksen ST Assembly Constituency, Nagaland: Assembly constituency in Nagaland where by-elections were announced.
Pipili Assembly Constituency, Odisha: Assembly constituency in Odisha where by-elections were announced.
Sahara Assembly Constituency, Rajasthan: Assembly constituency in Rajasthan where by-elections were announced.
Sujangarh SC Assembly Constituency, Rajasthan: Assembly constituency in Rajasthan where by-elections were announced.
Rajsamand Assembly Constituency, Rajasthan: Assembly constituency in Rajasthan where by-elections were announced.
Nagarjuna Sagar Assembly Constituency, Telangana: Assembly constituency in Telangana where by-elections were announced.
Salt Assembly Constituency, Uttarakhand: Assembly constituency in Uttarakhand where by-elections were announced.
The Representation of the People Act, 1951: The act of Indian parliament that specifies rules and regulations for conducting elections. Section 126A is specifically mentioned.
R. P. Act, 1951: Abbreviation for The Representation of the People Act, 1951
रजिस्ट्री स.ं डी.एल.- 33004/99 REGD. No. D. L.-33004/99
xxxGIDHxxx
सी.जी.-डी.एलxx.x-GअID.-E2x4xx0 32021-226084
CG-DL-E-24032021-226084
ऄसाधारण
EXTRAORDINARY
भाग II—खण् ड 3—ईप-खण्ड (iii)
PART II—Section 3—Sub-section (iii)
प्राजधकार स ेप्रकाजित
PUBLISHED BY AUTHORITY
स.ं 18] नइ ददल्ली, बुधर्ार, माच ा24, 2021/चत्रै 3, 1943
No. 18] NEW DELHI, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 24, 2021/CHAITRA 3, 1943
भारत जनर्ाचा न अयोग
ऄजधसचू ना
नइ ददल्ली, 24 माचा, 2021
अ.ऄ. 20(ऄ).—यतः, जनर्ााचन अयोग द्वारा ददनांक 26 फरर्री, 2021 के प्रेस नोट सं.इसीअइ/पीएन/
16/2021 के तहत ऄसम, केरल, तजमलनाडु, पजिम बगं ाल और पदु चु रे ी की जर्धान सभाओं के साधारण जनर्ाचा नों के जलए
कायाक्रम की घोषणा कर दी गइ ह।ै
यतः, जनर्ााचन अयोग द्वारा ददनांक 26 फरर्री, 2021 के प्रेस नोट सं.इसीअइ/पीएन/17/2021 के तहत केरल
के 6-मलप्परु म ससं दीय जनर्ाचा न क्षत्रे और तजमलनाडु के 39-कन्याकुमारी ससं दीय जनर्ाचा न क्षत्रे से ईप-जनर्ाचा नों के जलए
कायाक्रम की घोषणा कर दी गइ ह;ै और
यतः, जनर्ााचन अयोग द्वारा ददनांक 16 माचा, 2021 के प्रेस नोट स.ं इसीअइ/पीएन/28/2021 के तहत
अध्रं प्रदेि के 23-जतरूपजत (ऄ.िा.) ससं दीय जनर्ाचा न क्षत्रे और कनाटा क के 2-बले गाम ससं दीय जनर्ाचा न क्षत्रे , गिु रात के
125-मोरर्ा हडफ (ऄ.ि.िा.) जर्धान सभा जनर्ाचा न क्षत्रे , झारखडं के 13-मधपु रु जर्धान सभा जनर्ाचा न क्षत्रे , कनाटा क के
47-बासर्कल्याण और 59-मास्ट्की (ऄ.ि.िा) जर्धान सभा जनर्ाचा न क्षत्रे ों, मध्य प्रदेि के 55-दमोह जर्धान सभा जनर्ााचन
क्षत्रे , महाराष्ट्र के 252-पढं रपरु जर्धान सभा जनर्ाचा न क्षत्रे , जमिोरम के 26-सरे जिप (ऄ.ि.िा) जर्धान सभा जनर्ाचा न क्षत्रे ,
नागालडैं के 51-नोकसने (ऄ.ि.िा.) जर्धान सभा जनर्ाचा न क्षत्रे , ओजडिा के 110-जपजपली जर्धान सभा जनर्ाचा न क्षत्रे ,
रािस्ट्थान के 179-सहाडा, 24-सिु ानगढ़ (ऄ.िा.) और 175-रािसमन्द जर्धान सभा जनर्ाचा न क्षत्रे ों, तले गं ाना के
87-नागािनुा सागर जर्धान सभा जनर्ाचा न क्षत्रे और ईत्तराखडं के 49-सल्ट जर्धान सभा जनर्ाचा न क्षत्रे के जलए कायाक्रम की
घोषणा कर दी गइ ह।ै
1791 GI/2021 (1)2 THE GAZETTE OF INDIA : EXTRAORDINARY [PART II—SEC. 3(iii)]
यतः, लोक प्रजतजनजधत्र् ऄजधजनयम 1951 (संक्षपे म अरपी ऄजधजनयम, 1951) की धारा 126क म यह जनर्ददष्ट
दकया गया ह ै दक " (1) कोइ भी व्यजि कोइ जनगाम मत सर्ेक्षण नहीं करेगा और दकसी जनगमा मत सर्ेक्षण के पररणाम का,
ऐसी ऄर्जध के दौरान िो जनर्ााचन अयोग द्वारा आस संबंध म ऄजधसूजचत की िाए, प्रप्रट या आलैक्ट्रॉजनक मीजडया के माध्यम
से प्रकािन या प्रचार या दकसी भी प्रकार की ऄन्य रीजत म प्रसार नहीं करेगा।
(2) जनर्ााचन अयोग, ईपधारा (1) के प्रयोिन के जलए, जनम्नजलजखत को ध्यान म रखत ेहुए साधारण अदेि द्वारा
तारीख और समय ऄजधसूजचत करेगा, ऄथाात :-
(क) साधारण जनर्ााचन की दिा म , र्ह ऄर्जध मतदान के पहले ददन को मतदान के जलए जनयत समय के अरंभ
होने से प्रारंभ हो सकेगी और सभी राज्यों और संघ राज्य क्षेत्रों म मतदान समाप्त होने के अधे घंटे तक िारी रह सकेगी;
परंतु जभन्न-जभन्न ददनों पर एक साथ कराए िाने र्ाले ऄनेक ईप-जनर्ााचनों की दिा म , र्ह ऄर्जध मतदान के
पहले ददन को मतदान के जलए जनयत समय के अरंभ होन ेस ेप्रारंभ हो सकेगी और ऄंजतम मतदान समाप्त होन ेके पिात
अधे घंटे तक िारी रह सकेगी।
(3) ऐसा कोइ व्यजि, िो आस धारा के ईपबंधों का ईल्लंघन करेगा ऐसी ऄर्जध के कारार्ास से, िो दो र्षा तक की
हो सकेगी या िुमाान ेसे या दोनों से, दंडनीय होगा।"
ऄब, आसजलए, लोक प्रजतजनजधत्र् ऄजधजनयम, 1951 की धारा 126क की ईपधारा (1) के ऄधीन िजियों का
प्रयोग करते हुए, भारत जनर्ााचन अयोग ईि धारा की ईप-धारा (2) के ईपबंधों के दजृ ष्टगत ददनाकं 27 माच,ा 2021
(िजनर्ार) को पर्ू ाह्ा न 7.00 बिे और ददनाकं 29 ऄप्रलै , 2021 (गरूु र्ार) को ऄपराह्न 07:30 बि े तक के बीच की
ऄर्जध को ऐसी ऄर्जध के रूप म ऄजधसूजचत करता ह ै जिसके दौरान ईपयुाि साधारण जनर्ाचा न/ईप-जनर्ाचा नों के संबंध म
दकसी भी प्रकार के एजज़िट पोल का अयोिन करन े तथा प्रप्रट या आलेक्ट्रॉजनक मीजडया द्वारा आसके पररणाम के प्रकािन या
प्रचार ऄथर्ा दकसी भी ऄन्य तरीके से ईसका प्रचार-प्रसार करने पर प्रजतबंध होगा।
4. आसके ऄजतररि, यह भी स्ट्पष्ट दकया िाता ह ै दक लोक प्रजतजनजधत्र् ऄजधजनयम, 1951 की धारा 126(1) (ख) के ऄधीन
ईपयुाि साधारण जनर्ााचनों/ईप-जनर्ााचनों के संबद्ध मतदान क्षेत्रों म मतदान की समाजप्त के जलए जनयत समय पर समाप्त
होने र्ाले 48 घंटों की ऄर्जध के दौरान दकसी भी आलेक्ट्रॉजनक मीजडया म दकसी भी ओजपजनयन पोल या ऄन्य दकसी
मतदान सर्ेक्षण के पररणामों सजहत दकसी भी प्रकार के जनर्ााचन संबंधी मामल े के प्रदिान पर प्रजतबन्ध होगा।
[सं. 576/एजक्ट्िट/2021/एसडीअर/खंड-1]
अदेि से
एन. टी. भूरटया, सजचर्
ELECTION COMMISSION OF INDIA
NOTIFICATION
New Delhi, the 24th March, 2021
O.N. 20(E).—Whereas, the Election Commission has announced the schedule for the General
Elections to the Legislative Assemblies of Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal &
Puducherryvide Press Note No ECI/PN/16/2021, dated 26th February, 2021.
Whereas, the Election Commission has announced the schedule for the bye-elections from
6-Malappuram Parliamentary Constituency of Kerala and 39-Kanniyakumari Parliamentary
Constituency of Tamil Naduvide Press Note No. ECI/PN/17/2021 dated 26th February, 2021; and
Whereas, the Election Commission has announced the schedule for the bye-elections from
23-Tirupati(SC) Parliamentary Constituency of Andhra Pradesh & 2-Belgaum Parliamentary
Constituency of Karnataka, 125-Morva Hadaf(ST) Assembly Constituency of Gujarat,
13-Madhupur Assembly Constituency of Jharkhand, 47-Basavakalyan & 59-Maski(ST) Assembly
Constituencies of Karnataka, 55-Damoh Assembly Constituency of Madhya Pradesh,252-
Pandharpur Assembly Constituency of Maharashtra, 26-Serchhip(ST)Assembly Constituency of[भाग II—खण् ड 3(iii)] भारत का रािपत्र : ऄसाधारण 3
Mizoram, 51-Noksen(ST) Assembly Constituency of Nagaland, 110-Pipili Assembly Constituency of
Odisha, 179-Sahara, 24-Sujangarh(SC) & 175-Rajsamand Assembly Constituencies of Rajasthan,
87-Nagarjuna Sagar Assembly Constituency of Telangana and 49-Salt Assembly Constituency of
Uttarakhand vide Press Note No. ECI/PN/28/2021 dated 16th March, 2021.
And whereas, Section 126A of The Representation of the People Act, 1951 (in short R. P. Act,
1951) specifies that “(1) 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.
(2) For the purposes of sub-section (1), the Election Commission shall, by a general order, notify
the date and time having due regard to the following, namely:—
(a) in case of a general election, the period may commence from the beginning of the hours fixed
for poll on the first day of poll and continue till half an hour after closing of the poll in all the States and
Union territories;
Provided that in case of a number of bye-elections held together on different days, the period may
commence from the beginning of the hours fixed for poll on the first day of poll and continue till half an
hour after closing of the last poll.
(3) Any person who contravenes the provisions of this section shall be punishable with
imprisonment for a term which may extend to two years or with fine or with both.”
Now, therefore, in exercise of the powers under sub-Section (1) of Section 126A of the R.P.
Act, 1951, the Election Commission, having regard to the provisions of sub-Section (2) of the said Section,
hereby notifies the period between 7:00 A.M on 27th March, 2021 (Saturday) and 7.30 PM on 29th April,
2021 (Thursday), as the period during which conducting any exit poll and publishing or publicizing by
means of the print or electronic media or dissemination in any other manner whatsoever, the result of any
exit poll in connection with the aforesaid General Elections/Bye-elections, shall be prohibited.
4. It is further clarified that under Section 126(1)(b) of the R.P. Act, 1951, displaying any election
matter including results of any opinion poll or any other poll survey, in any electronic media, would be
prohibited during the period of 48 hours ending with the hours fixed for conclusion of poll in the respective
polling areas in connection with General elections and Bye elections.
[No. 576/EXIT/2021/SDR/Vol-I]
By Order,
N. T. BHUTIA, Secy.
Uploaded by Dte. of Printing at Government of India Press, Ring Road, Mayapuri, New Delhi-110064
and Published by the Controller of Publications, Delhi-110054.