Best infographics on US Midterm elections

Many graphics are produced from the same underlying data, elections are useful for examining and evaluating information graphics. Below are several examples of graphics and maps covering the same event, the recent midterm elections.

I compared MSNBC coverage, FiveThirtyEight coverage with BBC coverage of the 2018 US midterm elections. FiveThirtyEighty coverage had amaizing variety of graphs; the topics were very detailed about election history and projection of this election. MSNBC coverage was very minimal in detail, BBC info-graphics were more easy to read and the choice of data provide a very provoking political anaylsis of the American voter.





Fivethirtyeight historical anaylsis on election trends was excellently displayed in a varity of INTERACTIVE cartograms, line graphs, scatter plots and more. Every site used the map graph.  One thing that was unique to Fivethirtyeight was that its maps offered choices map or cartogram, net advantage or swing. It allow you a great understanding and to be conservative (or not) in your anaylsis.

MSNBC  data displayed relied heavily on the use of color to bring the point of cross in three graphics: US map, Races to Watch and The US House Exit Poll. The hierarchy between fonts and text weight support the color in relaying the information. However, I felt in the second information graphic "Races to Watch" it was too much information giving. In this graph some of the data was repetitive. For instance; it listed the projected winner and then also had a check next to the name of person winning. If Races to Watch was the first graphic, it could of help to build a deeper story line, beyond just the basic facts about the election.

 BBC News had a great mix of texts and graphics which creatively entice the reader to continue the article. I appreciated the use of text, line weights in BBC coverage as well as the color symbol. The information was laid out in a way that it was easy to read. Also, BBC divide the themes into various graphics instead of using a few graphics with too much data. BBC coverage can be divided by the primary facts of the election: which party won the senate, house, by state and a secondary set of graphics: historical trends, race, percentage of rural resident voters, level of education by race in voter population.

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BBC News effectively used a mixed of traditional graphs and  info-graphics. This one here is the best of all news sites, based on the great balance of text and graphics.




This is another creative display of data. However, its ineffective because your eye is not immediately drawn to crux of the topic. Furthermore, the Fox News site is cluttered with information and general over use of color.