Fact Check: Does the UK declare election results the moment polls close? Viral exit polls video explained
In response to a viral video circulating on social media suggesting that the UK announces its election results the moment polling stations close, a fact check has been conducted to clarify the UK's ballot reporting process and dispel any misconceptions.
On November 4, 2024, after the opinion polls, which help track public sentiment as the general ballot draws near, videos of news channels circulating online on X showed the polling's result as soon as it ended.
The clip shows an exit poll announcement, leading viewers to believe that official results are released instantaneously. However, this claim is inaccurate, as in the United Kingdom, official election results are not announced immediately after the polls close, and a media blackout has been imposed during the ballot day, as per the BBC from July 2024.
False claim: The United Kingdom declares election results the moment polls close
As previously stated, the claim that the video shows election results being announced immediately as polls close must be revised.
Community notes on platform X support this conclusion, where users clarified that the footage depicts exit poll data rather than official results.
Community notes under the video also clarified that an official media blackout in the United Kingdom restricts broadcasting ballot-related information on polling day until polling ends.
This video did not reflect ballot day results but presented an opinion poll, specifically an exit poll, which the media can report once voting concludes.
Based on surveys conducted outside polling stations, exit polls provide projections of potential outcomes but are not official results. This distinction explains why the media was permitted to broadcast the exit poll data seen in the video.
"In the U.K. there is an official broadcast media blackout on reporting ANY polling-related data during Election Day. As soon as the polls close the media can report on Exit Polls. This video shows the exit poll projections the second polling closes in the U.K.," community posts read.
Another point that makes the claim untrue is the BBC report that suggests that the BBC and other reporting channels are not allowed to report on polling results on TV, radio, websites, social media, and other channels from 06:00 BST until polls close at 22:00 BST.
According to the BBC, media coverage on election day generally focuses on essential, neutral updates, such as politicians arriving at polling stations or the weather. Additionally, it's illegal to publish exit polls while voting is ongoing. Exit polls are surveys that ask voters how they voted and aim to predict the election outcome based on those responses.
These points collectively disprove the video's claim. There is no official announcement of ballot poll results; however, the footage showed exit polls, which suggested the Labour Party was in the lead, followed by the Conservative Party.
Understanding the U.S. ballot process and result timing:
As we talk about election day, it's important to note the U.S. ballot process, especially since today, November 5, 2024, is presidential election day. According to the BBC, results are usually announced late at night or early the next morning. However, during the 2020 election on November 3, Joe Biden was declared the winner on November 7, showing that the timeline for announcing results can vary widely.
This year, the two leading candidates, Kamala Harris and Donald Trump, are in a very close race, which raises the possibility that the results may not be revealed tonight.
In 2020, the competition was similarly tight, with a margin of just 1.1 percentage points between the candidates, causing delays in announcing the victor's name. This precedent suggests that the outcome could take longer to confirm again this year, depending on the closeness of the results.
As the United States approaches the conclusion of its presidential election day and the United Kingdom to the opinion poll, many are eager to see who will emerge victorious and when the official results will be announced.