How Interactive Maps Helped Clarify Election Results in 2020

The 2020 United States presidential election was a unique event, marked by unprecedented mail-in voting and delays in ballot counting due to the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result, election results took days or even weeks to be fully reported, leaving many Americans wondering about the status of their vote. In this article, we will explore how interactive maps played a crucial role in helping voters understand the election results and provide insight into the process.

One example of an interactive map that helped clarify election results is the one developed by The New York Times. This map allowed users to click on individual states to view which counties were still processing ballots. Additionally, the map provided a legend that indicated the percentage of votes counted, as well as the estimated number of votes counted in darker colors for areas that had reported more of their ballots.

Interactive maps like this one used various visual variables such as texture and brightness to represent information about the election results. These visual variables helped readers quickly understand the status of election results in different states. For instance, some interactive maps allowed users to drill deeper into county-level results, providing a more detailed view of how votes were being counted.

Another benefit of interactive maps is their ability to update automatically with fresh data. However, it is essential to contextualize these updates to ensure that readers do not misunderstand the information. Affordances such as legends and hover-over text can help users understand the data and make informed decisions.

The use of interactive maps in election reporting has also led to new ways of presenting data. For instance, some web maps allow for re-symbolization, which enables users to view data in different formats. This flexibility allows readers to customize their experience and gain a deeper understanding of the election results.

In conclusion, interactive maps played a vital role in helping voters understand election results during the 2020 United States presidential election. These maps provided critical information about the status of vote counting and allowed users to drill deeper into county-level results. By leveraging visual variables such as texture and brightness, interactive maps helped readers quickly grasp complex data. Furthermore, their ability to update automatically with fresh data and provide affordances such as legends and hover-over text made them an essential tool for election reporting.

Nytimes election results 2020