What likely happens is what happened in 2000. Exit polling places employ people to exit poll for two days of training and two days of work per election year. It is not even a real temp job. It is at best a 2 day job. What the Exit polling company does is put help wanted ads in the local papers where they need Pollsters. Then hire the people that apply and give them a days training.
To produce fake numbers all one has to do is have a few ringers apply when the hiring ads are placed. Then those ringers call in fake numbers at noon, 2Pm and 4Pm. When those fake numbers are tabulated the 'Exit Poll' will show a big Kerry win. They did the same thing to VNS in 2000.
They likely did it to the new companies this time.
The idea was likely to discourage Bush voters in Ohio and Florida from voting. But this time it did not work.
If someone put out fake exit poll reports that purported to be from the real exit polling service, the polling service would have contacted the networks and news services within five minuts of the fake numbers hitting the internet. Yet Fox was still reacting to the bad numbers hours after the first noon time exit poll numbers were released.
If the actuall exit polling company had not been fooled the fake polls would not have lasted over 10 minutes.
IG, feel better soon. No sense to spend the time your hubby is gone being ill. Did you ever find an Inauguration dress?