Ever became part of exit polls? Well, this is how they are done

Tarique Anwar

Accompanied by a few local journalists, this reporter was chasing a story in Araria, in north-east Bihar. Suddenly, one of them got a call from unknown number. After the caller introduced himself, the fellow who had received the call switched on the speaker of his handset so that we could listen to the conversation.

The caller, speaking on behalf of a survey agency aligned with a news channel, asked the recipient his name and age. Why? The reply was, "Sir, hum ek survey agency X (name withheld) se bol rahe hain. Hum log A (a news channel's name) ke exit poll ke liye survey kar rahe hain (Sir, I am speaking on behalf of a survey agency aligned to a news channel for exit polls)," says the man on the other side.

"Yes, tell me," responds the recipient. And the conversation begins. "Are you 18 or above and a voter?" asks the caller. "Yes", said the recipient who was asked whether he has used his right to franchise. After getting the reply in "yes", he was asked the name of his constituency and district. Then the recipient was urged to reveal the name of the candidate and his party for whom he has voted. The recipient refused to do saying "it is a secret".

"Koi baat nai...aap keval yeh bata dijiye ki aapke chetra men, aapke anusar, kaun jeet sakta hai aur kyun...uska nikattam virodhi kaun hai...(No problem...you only tell me who - according to you- may win and why. Who is his nearest rival?)," asked the caller.

The conversation goes on but its above quoted part is sufficient to throw a hint why exit polls fail so often.