Details of organisation allowed to conduct exit poll available on website

     Details of the organisation approved to conduct the exit poll on the polling day of the 2019 District Council Ordinary Election were uploaded to the election website (www.elections.gov.hk) today (November 21). The information will also be displayed at relevant polling stations on the polling day.
 
     The Registration and Electoral Office (REO) received an application from the Hong Kong Research Association before deadline to conduct the exit poll and has approved the organisation to conduct the exit poll at designated polling stations.
 
     "To forestall public perception of unfairness, an organisation approved to conduct the exit poll is subject to the preconditions that it does not have members contesting in any constituency covered by the exit poll, has not publicly expressed support and will not publicly express support for any candidate in any constituency covered by the exit poll, and will not assign members of any body which has members contesting in any constituency covered by the exit poll or members of any body which has publicly expressed support for candidates contesting in any constituency covered by the exit poll to conduct the exit poll," a spokesman for the REO said.
 
     "The organisation is required to make a statutory declaration not to announce the results of the exit poll before the close of the poll. In particular, it should not release the results to any candidate contesting in any constituency covered by the exit poll, any person or organisation which has publicly expressed support for any candidate contesting in any constituency covered by the exit poll, or any organisation with a member or members contesting in any constituency covered by the exit poll.
 
     "In addition, it should not make specific remarks or predictions on the performance of any individual candidate before the close of the poll as this may affect electors' voting intentions and have an impact on election results," the spokesman added.
 
     "All approved exit poll interviewers are required to wear an identification badge showing clearly the identity of the organisation conducting the poll and the name of the interviewer during the conduct of the exit poll. Also, it should not speak to or communicate with the candidates or their agents there," he said.
 
     "Interviews are not allowed inside polling stations. It is an elector's right to keep their votes secret and electors' participation in the exit poll is wholly voluntary," he stressed.
 
     The REO reminded the public that the Government has not commissioned any person or organisation to conduct the exit poll.
 
     For enquiries, please call the election hotline on 2891 1001.