The BRICS TimesThis order covers not only the Bihar Assembly polls. It also applies to eight by-elections across seven other states. Read on for the Election Commission’s full statement.
Ban Imposed from November 6 to November 11
The Election Commission of India (ECI) released a crucial notification. This is concerning the Bihar Assembly General Election 2025. The ECI clearly outlined the regulations for exit polls. This aims to ensure fair elections. The poll results should not influence voters’ minds.
The Commission has imposed a complete ban. This ban is for holding or publishing exit poll results in the media. The restriction period is from 7:00 AM on November 6. It ends at 6:30 PM on November 11. This is mandated under the Representation of the People Act, 1951. News channels, newspapers, or websites cannot show predictions during this time. These predictions are based on voters’ actual voting.
This rule is not limited to the Bihar Assembly elections. It also covers eight by-elections in seven other states. The notification further states one more prohibition. Displaying any opinion poll or other survey results on electronic media is banned. This is for the 48-hour period before polling ends. These rules apply to all media houses and digital platforms.
The Purpose Behind This Strict Rule
Simply put, no channel, paper, or social media platform can spread or show results. These results are based on voting during the election or 48 hours after polling ends. The Commission believes any prediction or result promotion could sway voters’ opinions. “Therefore, such a strict rule has been created.”
The ECI’s notification ensures a key democratic principle. Voters must exercise their franchise freely and fairly. All media channels must follow these specific regulations. This compliance is absolutely mandatory.
