Voting Ends In Assam, Kerala, And Puducherry: Why Exit Polls Aren’t Out Yet, ECI Explains Delay

According to Election Commission’s mandate, exit polls cannot be conducted or disseminated from 7 am on April 9 until 6.30 pm on April 29.

An elderly woman shows her ink-marked finger after casting vote at a polling station in Guwahati. (Photo: PTI)

As voting for assembly elections of Kerala, Assam and Puducherry is concluded today, all eyes are on counting and exit polls. However, the exit polls will not be published today because of the guidelines from the Election Commission.

The ECI has imposed a strict ban on the conduct and publication of exit polls during the ongoing assembly elections in five states and one Union Territory, citing legal provisions aimed at ensuring free and fair voting.

According to the Commission, exit polls cannot be conducted or disseminated from 7 am on April 9 until 6.30 pm on April 29. The restriction covers all media platforms and agencies, including television channels, print publications, digital portals and other outlets involved in election coverage.

The poll body has warned that any violation of this directive would attract penal action under section 126A of the Representation of the People Act, 1951. Conducting or broadcasting exit polls during the prohibited period is punishable with imprisonment of up to two years, or with a fine, or both.

Elections in Kerala, Assam and Puducherry are being held on April 9, while Tamil Nadu will go to the polls on April 23. In West Bengal, voting will take place in two phases, on April 23 and 29.

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The Commission also highlighted the mandatory 48-hour ‘silence period’ before the end of polling in each state. In Kerala and Puducherry, this silence period begins at 6 pm on Tuesday, while in Assam it starts at 5 pm. During this period, all forms of public campaigning must cease.

The silence period is defined as the 48 hours preceding the close of voting in a particular constituency or the entire state, during which electioneering activities are heavily restricted. Apart from door-to-door campaigning by a limited number of party workers or the candidate, no other form of canvassing is permitted.

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However, officials acknowledge that enforcing these restrictions has become more challenging in the digital age, with social media and online platforms providing new avenues for political messaging.

Polling hours are generally from 7 am to 6 pm, though the exact timings may vary in certain areas depending on terrain, security considerations and local conditions.

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