Exit poll expectations create huge distortion, pollsters need to introspect, says CEC Rajiv Kumar

“In the last few elections, two things are happening simultaneously if we look at the entire canvas together… First, an exit poll comes – we don’t govern it… But there is a need for self-introspection, on what was the sample size, where was the survey done, how did the result come about and what is my responsibility if I did not match to that result, are there disclosures? – all of these need to be seen.”

The CEC also questioned early trends shown on TV channels within 15-30 minutes of the start of vote counting.

“Expectations rise from 6 pm… but there is no scientific base to this in public disclosure. When counting begins, results start pouring in at 8.05-8.10 am. This is nonsense. The first counting (of EVMs) begins at 8.30 am… Are the initial trends to justify the exit poll?… We start putting the results at 9.30 am on the (EC) website… So, when the actual results start coming in, there is a mismatch,” he said.

Asserting that this mismatch could lead to serious issues, the CEC said the gap between expectations and achievements “is nothing but frustration.” “So, this issue needs some deliberation,” he said.

Exit polls have had a poor showing this year. In the Lok Sabha elections, most of them predicted a clear victory for the BJP. Now, in the just-concluded assembly polls, most pollsters had predicted a comfortable win for the Congress in Haryana, in a stark contrast to the final results declared on October 8 wherein, the BJP swept the elections.

From the homepage

SC on amended Waqf Act: What has been stayed, what remains

Congress seeks 70 seats in Bihar, of these 27 are ‘good’ by its yardstick

‘Despite pleading, she purposely took us to a small hospital far away’: Wife of Finance Ministry officer killed in BMW accident to cops; driver arrested