Sunday, April 10, at 8 p.m., the French media will reveal the first estimates of the results of the first round of the presidential election.
But before that, as during the last national elections in France, anonymous people on social networks (with the hashtag #RadioLondres), but also foreign media, may publish first estimates of the result of this first round. Beware of this information which is unreliable and against the law.
Because exit polls have not existed for more than 20 years
The National Commission for the Control of the Electoral Campaign for the Presidential Election, the CNCCEP and the Polling Commission, in a press release dated 4 April, recalled the ban on publishing and broadcasting polls the day before and on the day of first and second round ballots. In this press release, it is also recalled that the main polling institutes will not carry out polls “out of the polls“.
The Survey Commission, which we contacted, recalls that this process, which consisted in questioning voters about their choice at the exit of the polling stations, has not existed in France for more than twenty years.
This process should not be confused with the estimates, revealed on the evening of the election from 8 p.m. and made from the counting of the first ballots of certain pre-selected polling stations, also called “test offices(among those that close at 7 p.m.).
Because foreign media estimates are unreliable
During the last presidential election, in 2017, the Belgian media, RTBF, revealed initial estimates, according to “several converging surveys“, the day of the first round of the election, from 5:30 p.m.
#presidential2017: According to several converging surveys Macron is in the lead ahead of Le Pen, Fillon and Mélenchon in a pocket handkerchief
— RTBF info (@RTBFinfo) April 23, 2017
Other foreign media, Swiss or even Brazilian, have also published initial estimates of the first and second rounds of our presidential election. The Polling Commission considers that these media “are looking to build audiences in France on election day“and that these estimates”are based solely on the latest pre-first round polls and are therefore not reliable enough to be taken seriously.“
Because it could cost you to share these estimates before 8 p.m.
The CNCCEP and the Survey Commission point out that the law prohibits the distribution and publication of “any poll” the day before and on the day of the vote before 8 p.m. The disclosure of results or polls is punishable by a fine of 75,000 euros. The objective is to “guarantee the freedom of each citizen to vote and the sincerity of the vote.“
Isabella de Silva, general rapporteur of the Election Control Commission, invited by franceinfo this Friday, April 8, recalled that he is also “prohibited from broadcasting these polls or relaying them in France.” She adds “that it is a ban that has existed for a very long time in France and which is rigorously implemented by the media.”
And on social networks? Isabelle de Silva indicates that the CNCCEP “gave indications to the platforms that will be responsible for this vigilance“to ensure that”these noises and these polls” are not relayed on social networks the day and the day before the vote, this Sunday, April 10.