In India, exit polls hold the same importance as the date of the election results announcement. Even before the last phase of voting concludes, people eagerly anticipate the exit polls. The final phase of the election is scheduled for June 1, and immediately after, every news channel will broadcast their exit poll predictions. Exit polls are announced only after voting in all phases of the election is completed to avoid influencing the voting behaviour of the electorate.
The practice of exit polling began during the second Lok Sabha elections in 1957. Since then, numerous news channels and agencies have developed their own exit polls. Exit polls are based on several key criteria: first, they must use questionnaires designed to gather opinions from people exiting polling booths. Second, the sample size must be sufficient to ensure reliability. Third, the poll must include diverse opinions from various socio-economic backgrounds.
However, in recent times, exit polls have often been inaccurate. This inaccuracy can be attributed to the capitalist nature of the media. The media has become highly politicized, with some news anchors presenting exit polls that favour their sponsored political parties. As a result, exit polls often lack the free and fair research necessary to achieve accuracy and build voter trust.
