The Associated Press, along with other news organizations, is gearing up for the U.S. election next week with a focus on transparency and explanation of the vote-counting process. With a tradition dating back to 1848, the AP will have thousands of individuals on hand to count votes and declare winners and losers.
Recognizing the importance of clarity in a climate of political misinformation and media distrust, the AP has already published explanatory stories and will have a team of reporters dedicated to explaining why key states are being called for presidential candidates Kamala Harris or Donald Trump.
Other news outlets like NBC News, The New York Times, ABC News, and CNN are also taking steps to inform the public about the election process. NBC News has explained how exit polls work, while The New York Times will provide additional information alongside its popular online feature, the Needle, which tracks the probability of presidential candidate victories.
The AP's role on election night involves counting votes in nearly 6,832 individual races, from the presidential race to local elections and ballot measures. The process includes collecting results from local authorities nationwide, compiling and verifying the data, and making calls based on actual results, exit polls, and historical trends.
Transparency is key in making these calls, especially in closely contested races. The AP aims to be systematic and thorough in its explanations to build trust and combat misinformation. The organization achieved a 99.9% accuracy rate in its calls during the 2020 election.
Journalists are also vigilant about reporting routine occurrences during elections, such as vote tally errors or technical issues, to prevent them from fueling conspiracy theories. Despite challenges, the AP remains committed to providing fact-based explanatory information to the public.
Overall, the efforts to educate the public on the election process have been well-received, reinforcing the importance of transparency and accuracy in reporting during this critical time.
