I Believe The First Exit Poll Numbers Will Be Out At 5:00 (45 minutes from now)

[ThomWV]

This morning on Washington Journal they interviewed someone who explained that the exit polling is being done and shared by a pool of news outlets. They further explained that the pollsters weren't going to release anything until 5:00pm, at which time they would begin releasing their exit numbers to the client news organizations. That means, if the reporting was accurate, that in about 45 minutes from now we're going to get a feel for results.

[busybl]

1. wasn't there a ruling a few elections back about not

announcing stuff till the west coast polls closed?

[billyoc]

3. Ruling? By whom?

The networks could call the election as early as 8:30 EST.

[busybl]

6. it was so long ago I don't remember

it was made to stop networks from called the election before the west coast closed.

[nadinbrzezinski]

10. There was, but it went away by 2004 IIRC

and in my view they should wait until either California closes, or preferably the next day

People don't realize this, but by the time Cali closes Guam is just opening

[ThomWV]

4. That was from back during the Reagan years if I remember correctly

They announced that Reagan had won before the polls had closed in California and so many people said that it kept the turnout down out there. Might have, might not have.

All I really know is what they said this morning, and I don't even know if that is accurate. However in todays world I doubt that any of the news outlets could care less about the good of the country or the rights of voters - they will announce anything to get a 3-second scoop over their competitors.

[dflprincess]

5. I thought they release them state by state as the polls close (nt)

[Cattledog]

2. None of the networks will be releasing exit polls

[krumpli]

7. How can they have exit polls in early voting states?

It's a fraud.

[ThomWV]

8. Do you think that people who vote early vote differently than people who wait?

After all it is all just a random sample from a limited number of voters. I don't see any reason to think that people who vote today are not representative of people who voted last week or last month. If there is a reason to think they vote differently please educate me - seriously, I'd like to know if you've seen anything that indicates they might be different.

[krumpli]

9. Yes they do. In Ohio polls showed that most early voters supported

Obama. But most of those who planned to voted on election day supported McCain.

Exit polls in early voting states will favor McCain as a result and will give everyone a false impression that McCain in fact won.
That's just the best way to steal an election.

[Ms. Toad]

13. That is my concern.

And one of the reasons I waited until election day to vote. The early votes have been scanned, but they cannot be tabulated and released until after the polls close.

If the exit polls are released just as people are leaving work (before the early votes can be released) it will be likely to energize late McCain voters and discourage late Obama voters.

(Incidentally, the absentee votes - will be the first Ohio numbers posted and are likely to be disproportionately for Obama, so the Obama portion of votes is likely to go down after the early reports.)

[Aslanspal]

11. I'll take any information now! and I threw up

I actually threw up, so nervous, sorry do not mean to gross people out, I feel better, I called what I did on my Kitchen floor.....Bush.

[itsrobert]

12. The "news media" won't report who's up, but they will report what was there primary reasons to vote.

Example: Economy, Energy, or Foreign Wars, etc.

[jennied]

14. Yes, CNN is saying they will have the first exit poll numbers soon