The Lok Sabha election's final phase, spanning seven stages, will conclude on Saturday. Subsequently, attention will turn towards exit polls, which are expected to predict the possible composition of the upcoming government.
Also Read: Lok Sabha Election Phase 7 Voting Live Updates: Polling begins in 57 seats; PM Modi, Kangana Ranaut in fray
The primary focus will revolve around determining whether the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) or the opposition bloc led by Congress, known as INDIA (Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance), is likely to emerge victorious.
According to the regulations set by the Election Commission of India (ECI), exit polls are prohibited from being conducted during the voting process. However, they are permitted to be published 30 minutes after the last vote is cast.
In accordance with these rules, exit poll data cannot be released prior to 6:30 pm on June 1, which marks the conclusion of the last round of polling. These regulations are governed by Section 126A of the Representation of the People's Act, 1951.
Also Read: Lok Sabha Elections 2024 exit polls results today. When and where to watch? Details here
Despite being eagerly awaited and scrutinized, exit polls are not flawless. Several factors can contribute to inaccuracies in their predictions:
1. Assumption of Truthful Responses
Exit polls operate under the assumption that voters will honestly disclose their choices. However, this premise can be flawed, as some individuals may deceive pollsters, while others may feel pressured to conceal their true opinions, especially from marginalized communities.
2. Insufficient Representation of Women
Exit polls often inadequately represent women, despite their significant influence on voting outcomes. This disparity in sample sizes can lead to errors, particularly in constituencies where women outnumber men.
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3. Human Errors in Sampling
Human involvement in sampling introduces the possibility of error. Field resources may inadvertently select convenient polling booths, skewing results, especially towards urban areas.
4. Margin of Error
Exit polls typically come with a margin of error ranging from 1% to 3%. In closely contested states, this margin becomes particularly significant, impacting the reliability of predictions.
5. Reliance on Historical Data
Exit polls often rely on historical election data for analysis, which may not accurately represent current sentiments due to India's diverse demographics and evolving voting patterns.
Also Read: Lok Sabha elections 2024 exit polls today: Take a look at how accurate predictions were in 2019, 2014
6. Budget Constraints and Methodological Pressures
Tight budgets and time limitations can compromise the quality of exit polls, affecting research depth and data collection. Moreover, the pressure to deliver prompt results can lead to shortcuts in methodology, potentially skewing outcomes.
7. Lack of Comprehensive Caste and Socio-Economic Data
Limited data on caste and socio-economic demographics pose challenges for accurate polling. The absence of recent caste census data and comprehensive information on voters' economic profiles hampers predictive accuracy.
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In the Lok Sabha Elections 2019, pollsters had predicted around 285 seats for the NDA. However, the BJP-led alliance won a landslide victory by winning 353 seats, with the BJP alone securing 303 seats. The Congress won 52 seats, and its UPA won 91 seats.
(With inputs from agencies)
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Published: 01 Jun 2024, 09:14 AM IST
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