How exit polls work and how much you can trust the result

Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} The exit poll for this year’s General Election will be published just after polling stations close at 10pm on Thursday. Exit polls take place at about 144 polling stations across the country, with tens of thousands of people asked to privately fill in a replica ballot as they leave, to get an indication of how they voted. The method of the exit poll is that you compare the results in the selected polling stations this time, with the results of the exit poll last time.” Polling stations will be open from 7am to 10pm on July 4 How are exit polls carried out? “Not that I’m suggesting that’s necessarily going to be the case this time but, on occasions like 2015 and 2017, the exit polls proved to give a better guide.” The accuracy of exit polls seems to have improved over time What did the exit polls say in the last few general elections?