Bihar Election 2025 Exit Polls: As the second phase of Bihar’s 2025 Assembly Elections concludes on November 11, all eyes will turn to exit polls, which will offer an early glimpse into the voter sentiment and potential outcomes. But what exactly are exit polls, and how are they conducted?
What are Exit Polls?
Exit polls are surveys that are carried right after people come out of the polling booth. This gives an early idea of the election results before the official count is out. Unlike opinion polls, which ask voters about their choices before the election, exit polls collect responses from those who have already voted. Agencies such as Axis My India, CVoter, and Today’s Chanakya among many others carry out these surveys to show possible trends and seat projections.
How are Exit Polls conducted?
The exit poll surveys are conducted after people are done casting their ballots. Teams of trained surveyors are waiting outside selected polling booths in different constituencies like Purnia, Gaya Town, and Sitamarhi. These booths are chosen to reflect a mix of people from various backgrounds, so the survey represents the entire region fairly.
Surveyors ask voters simple questions about whom they supported and, in some cases, why they made that choice. The answers are kept anonymous to ensure people speak freely. Along with this, information such as age, gender, and community is also collected to understand voting trends.
All this data is later analysed using statistical methods to estimate vote shares and predict how many seats each party might win. The final projections are then released after 6:30 pm via news channels and social media, as per Election Commission guidelines.
What are the EC guidelines on Exit Polls?
The Election Commission of India keeps a close watch on exit polls to make sure elections remain fair and unbiased. The exit polls cannot be conducted or published while the voting is still going on. This restriction stays in place from the first day of polling until 30 minutes after the last phase ends — for Bihar 2025, that means after 6:30 pm on November 11.
Breaking this rule can lead to a fine or even jail for up to two years. News outlets are also required to clearly mention that exit poll numbers are only predictions, not final results. Voters and media can visit eci.gov.in to see official updates and notifications from the Election Commission.
