With the final phase of voting in West Bengal scheduled for April 29, attention is firmly on when the first trends from the exit polls of this high-stakes election cycle will emerge. The second and final phase of the West Bengal Assembly elections will be held on April 29 after the first phase ends on April 23 along with polling in Tamil Nadu.
Once voting is over, attention will quickly turn to exit poll forecasts for West Bengal, as well as estimates in Tamil Nadu, Assam, Kerala and Puducherry.
Exit polls are surveys conducted immediately after voting, in which voters are asked who they voted for, allowing agencies to forecast likely outcomes.
Follow here for live updates
Release of exit polls: date and time
However, these predictions will not be announced until after the official deadline. The Election Commission prohibited the conduct and publication of exit polls from 7:00 AM on April 9 until 6:30 PM on April 29.
“The Election Commission has notified under Section 126A of the RP Act, 1951, that conduct of exit polls and publication of their results by print or electronic media is prohibited between 7.00 am on 9 April 2026 (Thursday) and 6.30 pm on 29 April 2026 (Wednesday),” the Poll Commission said.
As a result, exit poll results for all five regions are expected to be released only after 6:30pm on 29 April, once cross-stage voting has concluded.
The authority also warned broadcasters and digital platforms against broadcasting any content that could influence voters during this period.
This includes opinion polls or debates that may “enhance or harm the chances of any particular party or candidate(s).”
“Violation of Section 126A of the RP Act, 1951 is punishable with imprisonment up to two years or with fine or both,” the notification said.
Read also | Exit Poll 2026: When and where to watch forecasts in Bengal, Assam, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Puducherry
How are exit polls conducted?
Survey teams interact with voters outside polling stations, using structured questionnaires with closed-ended questions to ensure answers remain clear and consistent.
Samples are drawn from urban and rural areas across regions to capture a broad cross-section of voters. The collected data is then analyzed to identify patterns and predict potential seat shares for different parties or alliances.
