Why are we releasing exit poll data now?

I have seen the polls of early voters, and I think the argument that these are not exit polls, simply tracking polls that have accumulated enough early voters to make inferences about vote choice is not tenable.

I think early voting this year has all but destroyed the media agreement not to release exit poll information prior to the close of the polls.  I’m not sure how I feel about this, and have been working on an op ed addressing the question.  It’s currently sitting at the WS Journal but may move somewhere else.  It is a policy issue that we have to discuss, if early voting continues to grow.