Section 126A:
Restriction on publication and dissemination of result of exit polls, etc.
1[@b126A. Restriction on publication and dissemination of result of exit polls, etc.—(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;
(b) in case of a bye-election or a number of bye-elections held together, the period may
commence from the beginning of the hours fixed for poll on and from the first day of poll and
continue till half an hour after closing of the poll:
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.
Explanation@/ib@.—For the purposes of this section,—
(a) exit poll means an opinion survey respecting how electors have voted at an election or
respecting how all the electors have performed with regard to the identification of a political party or
candidate in an election;
(b) electronic media includes internet, radio and television including Internet Protocol
Television, satellite, terrestrial or cable channels, mobile and such other media either owned by the
Government or private person or by both;
(c) print media includes any newspaper, magazine or periodical, poster, placard, handbill or any
other document;
(d) dissemination includes publication in any print media or broadcast or display on any
electronic media.
Notes:
1. Ins. by Act 41 of 2009, s. 7 (w.e.f. 1-2-2010).