From Straight Arrow · · 1m 40s
Why red and blue election maps miss the full story
Election maps show red and blue states but don't capture vote diversity or turnout.
In brief
Election maps show red and blue states but don't capture vote diversity or turnout. Graphic designer Alberto Cairo explains that standard election maps don't show vote totals, turnout, or political diversity, so a single map can't tell the whole story. Originally reported by Straight Arrow.
Election maps show red and blue states
Election maps color-code states red or blue to show which party won each region.
Red-blue maps don't show vote details
These maps don't illustrate vote totals, turnout, or political diversity within regions.
Graphic designer explains misreading
Alberto Cairo, a University of Miami professor, says maps are misread as proof of political dominance.
Choropleth maps show party wins
Choropleth maps indicate which party won each geographic region but not vote counts.
Cartograms show population density
Cartograms distort geography to represent population, highlighting where voters live.
Purple States of America challenges red-blue maps
The Purple States of America project uses purple shades to show no state is strictly red or blue.
Maps are simplified representations
All maps are scaled, abstracted versions of reality that leave out features to focus on specific data.
Viewers must interpret maps correctly
People should avoid projecting their own beliefs on maps to understand election results accurately.
Data sources matter for reliability
Charts without cited data sources should be discarded as unreliable.
Using multiple maps gives full picture
Combining choropleths and cartograms shows different aspects of election outcomes.
Election maps don't tell the whole story
A single map will not tell the entire story of an election outcome.
What it means
Graphic designer Alberto Cairo explains that standard election maps don't show vote totals, turnout, or political diversity, so a single map can't tell the whole story.
