Exit Poll Results 2023: The results of the exit polls conducted by different media organisations in all the five poll-bound states will be out shortly after voting in Telangana ends - at 6 pm on Thursday (November 30). With this, the ban imposed by the Election Commission of India on publishing exit polls will also be lifted and media organisations will be free to show the prediction of the Assembly polls result. However, the results for the Assembly elections in five states – Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Telangana, Chhattisgarh and Mizoram – will be announced by the Election Commission of India (ECI) on December 3. Most of the media organisations conduct exit polls through their surveys. They ask people from different castes, age groups, genders and regions whom they voted for. India TV will also conduct an exit poll in association with the CNX agency.
A look at the states where polls were conducted
- Madhya Pradesh: The BJP-ruled state went on a single-phase voting on November 17 which will decide the fate of 2,533 candidates, including Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan of the BJP and former CM and Congress leader Kamal Nath. A voter turnout of nearly 76 per cent was recorded in Assembly elections in Madhya Pradesh surpassing the 75 per cent record in 2018. The incumbent Bharatiya Janata Party and opposition Congress are locked in a direct fight in the state. The total number of voters as per electoral rolls in Madhya Pradesh is 5,61,36,229. The total number of polling stations for the Madhya Pradesh Assembly polls in 2023 is 64,523. In Madhya Pradesh, 35 Assembly seats are reserved for Scheduled Castes (SCs). 47 seats are reserved for Scheduled Tribes (STs).
- Rajasthan: The desert state went on to polls on November 25 and registered a turnout of 75.45 per cent for 199 constituencies (The voting in one seat was deferred due to the death of a candidate). In 2018, the state registered a turnout of 74.71 per cent. While the BJP is looking to make a comeback, the Congress has left no stone unturned in staying back in power. The total number of voters as per electoral rolls in Rajasthan is 5,26,80,545. The total number of polling stations for the Rajasthan Assembly polls in 2023 is 51,756. In Rajasthan, 34 Assembly seats are reserved for Scheduled Castes (SCs). 25 seats are reserved for Scheduled Tribes (STs).
- Mizoram: The Mizoram Assembly elections passed off peacefully with over 77 per cent. However, due to technical reasons, the Election Commission directed that voting be held again in one polling station in Mizoram’s Aizawl South-III constituency. The ruling Mizo National Front (MNF), the main opposition Zoram People's Movement (ZPM) and the Congress have fielded candidates in all 40 seats. The BJP is contesting 23 constituencies, while the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has nominated candidates in four Assembly segments. Besides, there are 27 independent candidates. The total number of voters as per electoral rolls in Mizoram is 8,56,868. The total number of polling stations for the Mizoram Assembly polls in 2023 is 1,276. In Mizoram, 39 Assembly seats are reserved for Scheduled Tribes (STs).
- Chhattisgarh: Polling in the Naxal-hit state was conducted in two phases in 90 Assembly constituencies. The main contenders here are again the BJP and Congress. The total number of voters as per electoral rolls in Chhattisgarh is 2,03,80,079. The total number of polling stations for the Chhattisgarh Assembly polls in 2023 is 24,109. In Chhattisgarh, 10 Assembly seats are reserved for Scheduled Castes (SCs). 29 seats are reserved for Scheduled Tribes (STs).
- Telangana: The southern state is scheduled to go to polls on November 30 in which the ruling Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) has fielded candidates in all 119 seats. The BJP and the Jana Sena Party (JSP) are contesting in 111 and 8 seats respectively and the Congress in 118 seats. It has given one seat to its ally Communist Party of India (CPI). The Asaduddin Owaisi-led AIMIM, also considered one of the main contenders, has put up candidates in nine seats. As many as 2,290 contestants are in the fray for the upcoming elections. The total number of voters as per electoral rolls in Telangana is 3,17,32,727. The total number of polling stations for the Telangana Assembly polls in 2023 is 35,356. In Telangana, 19 Assembly seats are reserved for Scheduled Castes (SCs). 12 seats are reserved for Scheduled Tribes (STs).
What are exit polls?
The exit polls are a way to understand the voters' mood after using their voting rights. The election exit polls are one of the credible ways to predict the election outcome or the final result. The exit polls have been conducted by gathering information from voters of different regions and constituencies outside the polling booths. Different media organisations conduct opinion polls also before the voting. The exit polls are post-vote polls and the opinion polls are pre-vote polls.
What is the process to conduct exit polls?
Most of the media organisations conduct exit polls through the random sampling method. However, some organisations also pick systematic sampling to determine the final outcome. They ask people from different castes, age groups, genders and regions whom they voted for.
