Details of organisation allowed to conduct exit poll for District Council Ordinary Election available on election website

     Details of the organisation approved to conduct the exit poll on the polling day of the 2023 District Council Ordinary Election were uploaded onto the election website (www.elections.gov.hk/dc2023/eng/exitpoll.html) today (December 8). 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 the 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 member(s) contesting the election, has not publicly expressed support for any candidate(s) in the election, and will not deploy member(s) of any organisation which has member(s) contesting the election or member(s) of any organisation which has publicly expressed support for candidate(s) contesting the election to conduct the exit poll," a spokesman for the REO said.
 
     "The organisation is required to make a statutory declaration not to announce or disclose the information or results of the exit poll before the close of the poll. In particular, it should not release the results to any candidate(s) contesting the election, media, any person, body or organisation which has publicly expressed support for any candidate(s) contesting the election, or any body or organisation with a member or members contesting the election. It should not directly or indirectly use the information or results of the exit poll for electioneering purposes in promoting and prejudicing the election of candidate(s)," the spokesman added.
 
     "In addition, the organisation should not make specific remarks or predictions on the performance of any candidate(s) before the close of the poll as this may affect electors' voting behaviour and have an impact on election results.

     "All approved exit poll interviewers are required to display prominently an identification device showing clearly the identity of the organisation conducting the poll and the name of the interviewer during the conduct of the exit poll. Also, they should not speak to or communicate with the candidates or their agents there.

     "Interviews are not allowed inside polling stations. It is the right of electors to keep their votes secret and electors' participation in the exit poll is wholly voluntary," the spokesman reiterated.
 
     The REO reminded the public that the Government has not commissioned any organisation or person to conduct the exit poll for the Government. 
 
     For enquiries, please call the election hotline on 2891 1001.