Paragraph 27A Prohibition on publication of exit pollsF1

(1)

A person who publishes before the poll at a local election is closed—

(a)

any statement relating to the way in which voters have voted at the election where that statement is (or might reasonably be taken to be) based on information given by voters after they have voted, or

(b)

any forecast as to the result of the election which is (or might reasonably be taken to be) based on information so given,

is guilty of an electoral offence.

(2)

In this paragraph—

forecast includes estimate;
publish means make available to the public at large, or any section of the public, in whatever form and by whatever means;

and any reference to the result of an election is a reference to the result of the election either as a whole or so far as any particular candidate or candidates at the election is or are concerned.

Annotations

Textual amendments

F1: SI 2001/417

Notes on the whole Act

Textual amendments

F1: Refs. to registration officer, returning officer or electoral officer are to be construed as refs. to Chief Electoral Officer, 1972 NI 13

Notes on Schedule NINTH

Textual amendments

F1: mod. SI 2003/1557