Should opinion polls be banned?

Should opinion polls be banned?

With national elections round the corner, TV channels have started showing their pre-poll projections. But the same opinion polls were strongly opposed by the congress party as it raised questions on the need and authenticity of such surveys. Is this opposition valid? Lets have a look:-

For the topic

1. Pre-poll surveys should be banned as they are not performed scientifically and thus the results of such surveys hardly match with the actual one.

2. Opinion polls just before the elections provide a free campaign to the party which scores in such surveys and this undue advantage is somehow against the election commission guidelines.

3. Many times a few polls are influenced by any specific party and show a swing in their favour which is unethical.

4. Opinion polls end up confusing the electorate and at times also influence their voting decisions in the last minute.

5. The raw data of such polls is not produced and the method of surveying is not transparent which raises questions on its validity.

Against the topic

1. Opinion polls shouldn’t be banned as they give a rough idea about the ground level to the voter and help him make a wise decision.

2. Such polls have never been questioned by the Election Commission. So, they are constitutionally valid.

3. India where we practice freedom of speech and expression, banning such polls will stand against the basic tenets of democracy.

4. Opinion polls present the national mood to a great extent and it also helps the political parties to know their position in the elections.

5. Opinion polls hardly change the mind of a voter. They only remain as a medium of entertainment for the viewers at large.

Conclusion

Opinion polls are shown all over the world in democratic countries. So banning opinion polls isn’t the right thing to do. The point is to regulate and monitor these polls and make the process of surveying more transparent and accountable. Only if such measures are adopted that the polls will be able to present the clear picture before the elections.