2010 Midterm Election Exit Polls: Exit Polls to Begin at 5:30 PM

There will be not exit polling data coming in until at least 5:30 PM EST this evening. ABC promises to release exit polls at that time, but they will not project winners until later on in the evening. Early exit polls will show demographic trends in voter data.

From ABC News:

As polls start to close, actual vote count will begin to supplement insight provided by exit poll results. Some races will be projected at poll closing based on a careful analysis of exit poll results alone. Others will not be projected until there is further analysis of actual vote count.

The data gathered in exit polls provide the best source of information about who voted, for whom they voted, and why. Because they tell such an important part of the story on Election Day, for 40-plus years exit polls have played a key role in how national elections are covered. It is important to understand how these polls are conducted, and why ABC News and other organizations continue to rely on the results.