The European Parliamentary Elections Regulations 2004

Prohibition on publication of exit polls E+W+S

30.—(1) No person shall in the case of a European Parliamentary election publish before the close of the poll—

(a) any statement relating to the way in which voters have voted at the election where that statement is (or might reasonably be taken to be) based on information given by voters after they have voted, or

(b) any forecast as to the result of the election which is (or might reasonably be taken to be) based on information so given.

(2) If a person acts in contravention of paragraph (1), he shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months.

(3) In this regulation—

“close of the poll” means, in the case of a general election of MEPs, the close of the polling in the Member State whose electors are the last to vote in the election;

“forecast” includes estimate;

“publish” means make available to the public at large, or any section of the public, in whatever form and by whatever means;

and any reference to the result of an election is a reference to the result of the election either as a whole or so far as any particular registered party or individual candidate at the election is or are concerned.