The Election Commission of India on Friday banned exit polls between 7 am and 6:30 pm October 11, Wednesday, in the poll bound Gurdaspur parliamentary constituency.
Besides, the Election Commission has made mandatory to use of electronic voting machines (EVMs) and voter-verified paper audit trail (VVPAT) in the Gurdaspur bypoll.
Citing provisions of section 126-A of the Representations of the Peoples’ Act, 1951, the Commission’s spokesperson said: “Exit polls cannot be conducted and publicised by means of print and electronic media or dissemination in any other manner starting from 7 am to 6.30 pm of October 11.”
Clarifying, he said that display of any election matter including results of any opinion poll or any other poll survey in any electronic media is prohibited during the period 48 hours, including the hour fixed for conclusion of poll in each of the phases in connection with the bye elections.