In India's 2026 assembly elections, exit polls cannot be published until 6:30 PM on April 29, following the conclusion of polling in West Bengal. This restriction is mandated by Section 126A of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, which aims to protect voter autonomy and ensure a level playing field for all candidates. The law prevents the dissemination of exit poll results from 7 AM on April 9 until the specified time to avoid influencing undecided voters, particularly in closely contested regions like West Bengal. The rationale behind this ban is to mitigate the 'bandwagon effect', where early projections could create a false momentum for a party, potentially swaying the decisions of voters in later phases. The Election Commission (EC) also enforces a 30-minute buffer after polling ends to ensure that all voters have cast their ballots without external influence. Violating this ban can lead to severe penalties, including imprisonment for up to two years and substantial fines. As the deadline approaches, the anticipation for exit poll data increases, although official counting will not occur until May 4.