For many people, the outcome of elections is more than a simple count of votes. It reflects our values and hopes for the future. And for that reason, it isn’t surprising that when results don’t align with our expectations, we experience heightened levels of stress and uncertainty.
Election maps are a popular tool for communicating election results because they help voters quickly visualize data and identify trends or patterns. In addition, they are an important part of the transparency and accountability that voters expect from elections. But while maps are helpful, they don’t replace a thorough examination of official election results.
In the aftermath of the 2020 presidential election, it is clear that a healthy democracy depends on citizens’ willingness to accept the legitimacy of the electoral process and to recognize the outcomes of their votes. However, a large number of Americans have contested election results in the past, including former Vice President Al Gore (Gore v. Bush, 2000) and former President Donald Trump (62 lawsuits against the election were filed in a variety of states, all of which were dismissed).
These instances of contesting results can create doubt about the fairness of democracy. As such, it is critical to have trusted sources of information that can reduce feelings of uncertainty and instability. This means checking in with AP or Reuters in addition to your go-to news outlets (avoid TikTok and Facebook). And remember that everyone processes emotions differently.
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