Article 36 Prohibition on publication of exit pollsI1

England and Wales

(1)

Before the poll is closed no person may publish—

(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.

(2)

A person who acts in contravention of paragraph (1) is liable on summary conviction to—

(a)

a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale, or

(b)

imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months.

(3)

In relation to an offence committed after the commencement of section 281(5) of the Criminal Justice Act 2003, the reference in paragraph (2) to 6 months must be taken to be a reference to 51 weeks.

(4)

In this article—

“forecast” (“rhagolwg”) includes estimate,
“publish” (“cyhoeddi”) means to 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

Commencement

I1: Art. 36 in force at 18.7.2025, see art. 1(2)