| TAMIL NADU GOVERNMENT GAZETTE PUBLISHED BY AUTHORITY EXTRAORDINARY | ||
No. 59] CHENNAI, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2023 Thai 26, Subakiruthu, Thiruvalluvar Aandu–2054
Part V—Section 4
Notifications by the Election Commission of India
NOTIFICATION BY THE ELECTION COMMISSION OF INDIA
ELECTION COMMISSION'S NOTIFICATION REGARDING EXIT POLL AT THE BYE-ELECTION TO TAMIL NADU LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY FROM 98.ERODE (EAST) ASSEMBLY CONSTITUENCY
No. SRO G-6/2023
The following Notification of the Election Commission of India, Nirvachan Sadan, Ashoka Road, New Delhi-110 001, dated 6th February, 2023 is published:-
No.576/EXIT/2023/SDR/Vol.I:- Whereas, the schedules for the General Elections to the Legislative Assemblies
of Meghalaya, Nagaland & Tripura have been announced by the Commission vide Press Note No.ECI/PN/1/2023,
dated 18th January, 2023 and bye elections to 01-Lumla (ST) Assembly Constituency of Arunachal Pradesh,
23-Ramgarh Assembly Constituency of Jharkhand, 98-Erode (East) Assembly Constituency of Tamil Nadu,
60-Chinchwad Assembly Constituencies of West Bengal and 215-Kasba Peth & 205-Chinchwad Assembly
Constituencies of Maharashtra have been announced by the Press Note No.ECI/PN/2/2023, dated 18th January, 2023.
2. Whereas, Section 126A of the Representation of the People Act, 1951 (in short R.P. Act, 1951) specifies that "(1) No person shall conduct any exit poll and publish or publicise by means of the print or electronic media or disseminate in any other manner, whatsoever, the result of any exit poll during such period, as may be notified by the Election Commission in this regard.
(2) For the purposes of sub-section (1), the Election Commission shall, by a general order, notify the date and
time having due regard to the following, namely:-
(a) in case of a general election, the period may commence from the beginning of the hours fixed for poll on the
first day of poll and continue till half an hour after closing of the poll in all the States and Union territories;
(b) in case of a bye-election or a number of bye-elections held together, the period may commence from the
beginning of the hours fixed for poll on and from the first day of poll and continue till half an hour after closing of the poll;
Provided that in case of a number of bye-elections held together on different days, the period may commence
from the beginning of the hour fixed for poll on the first day of poll and continue till half an hour after closing of the
last poll.
(3) Any person who contravenes the provisions of this section shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term
which may extent to two years or with fine or with both".
2 TAMIL NADU GOVERNMENT GAZETTE EXTRAORDINARY3. Now, therefore, in exercise of the powers under sub-section (1) of Section 126A of the R.P. Act, 1951, the Election Commission, having regard to the provisions of sub-Section (2) of the said Section, hereby notifies the period between 7.00 A.M. on 16th February, 2023 (Thursday) and 7.00 P.M. on 27th February, 2023 (Monday) as the period during which conducting and publishing or publicizing exit poll by means of the print or electronic media or dissemination in any other manner, whatsoever, the result of any exit poll in connection with the aforesaid General Elections and bye-elections, shall be prohibited.
3. It is further clarified that under Section 126(1)(b) of the R.P. Act, 1951, displaying any election matter including results of any opinion poll or any other poll survey, in any electronic media, would be prohibited during the period of 48 hours ending with the hour fixed for conclusion of poll in connection with General Elections and bye-elections.
(By Order)
S.B. Joshi,
Principal Secretary,
Election Commission of India.
SATYABRATA SAHOO, Chief Electoral Officer and Principal Secretary to Government, Secretariat, Chennai-600 009, 9th February 2023.