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

With the high-stakes second and final phase of the West Bengal Assembly elections 2026 concluding on Wednesday, attention now shifts to exit poll projections, which are set to be released after 6:30 pm on April 29, in line with Election Commission guidelines.

Voting in Phase 2 will cover the remaining constituencies of the 294-member Assembly, marking an intense end to the campaign. The contest has seen heightened political activity across 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 cannot be published until 30 minutes after polling ends in the final phase. Accordingly, projections for the 2026 elections will begin to emerge after 6:30 pm on April 29. You can track exit poll results for West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Assam and Puducherry on Economic Times website.

What are exit polls?

Exit polls are basically a poll or survey of voters exiting polling stations after casting their votes. Exit polls are conducted by numerous organisations which use different methods for the purpose.

How are exit polls conducted?

Agencies conducting an exit poll follow a range of different procedures or methods. One of the most common methods is sampling. These agencies might opt for random or systematic sampling. The random sampling at times can be of an entire electorate and not just of voters outside a booth — covering parameters such as age, sex, caste, region and more.

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

Section 126A of the Representation of the People's Act, 1951 clearly states that "No person shall conduct any exit poll and publish or publicise by means of the print or electronic media or disseminate in any other manner, whatsoever, the result of an exit poll during such period as may be notified by the Election Commission in this regard."

Any person who contravenes the provisions of this section shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to two years or with fine or with both.

Are exit polls reliable?
Exit polls gives a broad trend and a sense of direction as to where the mood of the nation is heading. It should also be noted that there have been various instances when exit polls predictions turned out to be wrong.