New Delhi: The Election Commission of India has issued a crucial notification regarding the ban on the conduct, publication, or publicising of exit polls during a specified period surrounding the Lok Sabha and state Assembly elections.
The notification, released on Thursday, outlines the timeframe during which such activities are prohibited, ensuring the integrity and fairness of the electoral process.
According to the notification, the ban on exit polls will be enforced from 7:00 am on April 19 until 6:30 pm on June 1, aligning with the voting period for the Lok Sabha and four state assembly polls.
This measure aims to prevent the premature dissemination of polling-related information that could potentially influence voter behaviour or perception.
Additionally, the notification emphasizes that the Representation of the People Act prohibits the display of any election-related content, including the results of opinion polls or surveys, in electronic media during the 48-hour period leading up to the conclusion of the poll.
This provision aims to maintain a level playing field and ensure that voters make their decisions based on substantive information rather than speculative forecasts.
The ban on exit polls and election-related content extends beyond the Lok Sabha polls to include the assemblies of Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Odisha, and Sikkim, as well as the by-elections to 25 assembly constituencies across 12 states scheduled within the same period.
By imposing these restrictions, the Election Commission seeks to uphold the principles of free and fair elections and safeguard the democratic process from undue external influences.
These regulations underscore the Election Commission’s commitment to conducting elections with transparency, impartiality, and integrity, thereby preserving the sanctity of the electoral process and upholding the democratic ideals enshrined in the Indian constitution.
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