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Exit poll

Private polling institutes conduct exit polls to be able to release a prediction of the election result on television and in other media at 6 pm already, before any votes have been counted. Voters in selected polling districts are asked to take down how they have voted once they have left the polling station. Exit polls usually cover also age, sex and educational attainment. They are voluntary and anonymous.

Exit polls by polling institutes are permissible provided that they do not interfere with the election process and the procedure of determining and establishing the election result. However, results must not be published before 6 pm, for instance via Twitter. This is to protect voters from being influenced in their decision of who to vote for. A premature publication of results is a regulatory offence punishable by a fine of up to 50,000 euros.

Last update: 10 April 2017