An exit poll is a survey of voters taken as they leave a polling place, usually to estimate election results and understand why people voted the way they did.

Quick Scoop

  • What it does: It asks voters who they just voted for, plus a few demographic or issue questions, after they cast their ballot.
  • Why it matters: News organizations and analysts use it to get an early picture of election trends before all official votes are counted.
  • How it works: Interviewers sample voters at selected polling sites, and the responses are used to make predictions and analyze voter behavior.

Simple example

If a large enough sample of voters leaving polling stations says they voted for Candidate A, an exit poll may suggest Candidate A is likely ahead, even before final counting finishes.

Key point

Exit polls are estimates, not official results , so they can be wrong if the sample is off or turnout differs from expectations.