What is the purpose of an exit poll?

The purpose of an exit poll is to gather immediate feedback from voters after they have cast their votes. Exit polls are conducted on election day, right outside polling places, and aim to capture voters' choices and their reasons for those choices while the experience is fresh in their minds. This information can provide valuable insights into the electorate's behavior, preferences, and motivations in a timely manner.

By focusing on immediate feedback, exit polls can help media outlets, political analysts, and campaign strategists understand how different factors may have influenced voter decisions during that particular election. This can also provide early indicators of election outcomes before the official results are released, although it should be noted that exit polls are not definitive and can vary from actual vote counts.

The other options refer to broader analyses of voting behavior over time or demographics, which are not the primary focus of exit polls. Instead, exit polls concentrate specifically on the immediate aftermath of the voting process, capturing a snapshot of the electorate's sentiments as they leave the polls.