ECI Imposes Ban on Exit Polls for Upcoming Haryana and J&K Assembly Elections

The Election Commission of India (ECI) has banned the publication of exit polls for the upcoming Haryana and Jammu and Kashmir assembly elections from September 18 to October 5. Voting dates and phases were confirmed, with significant restrictions on media coverage during the election period.

The Election Commission of India (ECI) has announced a ban on the publication of exit polls concerning the legislative assembly elections in Haryana and Jammu and Kashmir. According to a notification issued on September 3, no exit poll results can be published through any means from 7 am on September 18 until 6:30 pm on October 5.

The notification specified the restricted period, stating that exit poll results by print, electronic media, or any other mode of dissemination are prohibited during this timeframe. Additionally, any election matter, including opinion poll results, must not be displayed on electronic media 48 hours before the polling conclusion.

Haryana's 90-member legislative assembly voting will occur on October 5, with September 12 as the last nomination filing date. Jammu and Kashmir, with 90 constituencies, will conduct polling in three phases on September 18, 25, and October 1. This will be the first election in Kashmir post Article 370 abrogation. The ECI revised the Haryana polling date to October 5 and moved the vote counting for both regions to October 8.

(With inputs from agencies.)