Not predicting results until the polls close...is this a new thing in the States?

[yvr girl]

It seems to me that they would cite exit polls prior to the polls closing.

It's against the law to broadcast election results in Canada before the polls close.

[TheWraith]

1. Not at all, it's customary.

I'm fairly sure it's not actually illegal here to make predictions before the polls close, but it's traditional that no major media outlets do it.

[swag]

2. Since 1980

When the networks called it for Reagan before some of us out West had even voted.

[Jackpine Radical]

3. I think the networks decided to hlold off "voluntarily"

after they were accused of affecting the vote (i.e. sppressing the Bush vote by calling FL too early) in 2000.

[sarge43]

7. That's what CNN reported.

Did Faux join in? I'd be flabbergasted if it has.

[sarge43]

4. Yeah, it is.

The media took a lot of heat the last few elections about it. So maybe they're starting to remember that news and entertainment aren't the same thing. We shall see.

[blondeatlast]

5. There has been debate about prohibiting it, but it never seems to

get anywhere.

I'd love to see them required to wait until closing.

[yvr girl]

8. 2 elections ago in Canada they experimented with early results in Canada

But only for one election. I live on the West Coast. We don't get any results (from anywhere in the country) until the polls close here.

[babylonsister]

6. Making predictions had devastating results in 2000, so they've

been very careful since then. MSNBC is hinting a bit, but nothing definitive.

Edit to add: they're 'projecting'.

[Lex]

9. That's customary here in NC

so as not to influence last minute voters one way or the other.