exit poll n 1: a poll of voters as they leave the voting place; usually taken by news media in order to predict the outcome of an election
exit poll \ex"it poll`\ a survey poll taken by interviewing voters as they leave (exit) the polling place, to determine how they voted and for what reasons; -- it is usually taken by news media to learn at an early time (often before the balloting has finished) who the winners are, and sometimes the reasons for the voters' choices. [PJC]