As assembly elections in India approach their conclusion, attention turns to exit polls, which serve as preliminary indicators of voter sentiment. The Election Commission of India strictly regulates the release of these polls to prevent any potential influence on voter behavior during the polling process. Exit polls are conducted as voters leave polling stations, using statistical methods to project election outcomes, although they are not official results. They are typically released 30 minutes after the last polling booth closes, around 6:30 PM on the final polling day. This delay is crucial, especially in multi-phase elections, to ensure that voters in later phases are not swayed by early results. The prohibition on publishing exit polls starts when the first phase of voting begins and lasts until half an hour after the final phase ends, as stipulated under Section 126A of the Representation of the People Act, 1951. Violating this embargo can lead to fines or imprisonment.