Exit polls 2026: What are post poll surveys? Are they reliable? How are they conducted? All details here

As the high-stakes second and final phase of the West Bengal Assembly elections 2026 comes to an end on Wednesday, attention now turns to the exit poll predictions, which will be released after 6.30 pm on April 29, in line with the Election Commission guidelines.

Voting in Phase 2 will cover the remaining constituencies of the 294-member Assembly and will mark a busy end to the campaign. The contest witnessed increased political activity in the districts, with the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) making last-minute appeals to voters.

As per Election Commission norms, exit polls will not be published until 30 minutes after the final stage of voting ends. Accordingly, predictions regarding the 2026 elections will begin to emerge after 18.30 on April 29. You can follow the exit poll results of West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Assam and Puducherry on the Economic Times website.

What are exit polls?

Exit polls are basically a survey or survey of voters leaving the polls after casting their votes. Exit surveys are conducted by a number of organizations that use different methods for this purpose.

How are exit polls conducted?

Organizations conducting exit surveys follow a number of different procedures or methods. One of the most common methods is sampling. These institutions may choose random or systematic sampling. Random sampling may occasionally include all voters, not just those outside a booth; It covers parameters like age, gender, caste, region and more.

What does the Representation of the People Act say about exit polls?

Section 126A of the Representation of the People Act, 1951 clearly states: “No person shall conduct any exit poll and publish or publicize through print or electronic media or disseminate in any way the result of an exit poll for such period as may be notified in this regard by the Electoral Commission.”
Any person who contravenes the provisions of this section shall be punished with imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years, or with a fine, or with both.

Are exit polls reliable?
Exit polls provide a broad trend and a sense of direction as to where the mood of the nation is headed. It is also worth noting that there were several cases where the predictions in the exit polls were wrong.