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mitelectionlab.bsky.social
MIT Election Lab
@mitelectionlab.bsky.social
8.9K followers 58 following 330 posts
By applying scientific principles to how elections are studied and administered, MEDSL aims to improve the democratic experience for all U.S. voters.
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mitelectionlab.bsky.social
If you've been following our precinct-level data closely, you might have noticed some updates last week! We've now added Hawaii, New Mexico, and Kansas to the 2024 dataset. Check out all of our available states on our GitHub: buff.ly/k6S0zTU
A hex map of the United States, titled "Progress of 2024 precinct data." Most states are still colored grey, indicating that our team hasn't yet cleaned and posted their precinct-level election results. 17 states are now bright pink, indicating that we HAVE collected, cleaned, and posted their data! Pink states are: MT, MN, SD, NH, IL, KY, TN, VA, DE, NC, SC, DC, FL, NM, OK, KS, and HI.
July 30, 2025 at 6:30 PM
mitelectionlab.bsky.social
Another day, another state added to our 2024 precinct-level election dataset! We've just added Kentucky to the dataset; too late for the Derby, but hopefully right on time for you to use in your analysis & research! Find all of the data here: buff.ly/2l4Oh0i
A hex map of the United States. Most states are greyed out, but now 12 states are hot pink, indicating their data have been collected, cleaned, and published by our team. States available are now: DC, DE, NC, SC, FL, TN, KY, IL, MN, SD, OK, and MT.
May 7, 2025 at 3:01 PM
mitelectionlab.bsky.social
Eagle-eyed followers might have noticed that our map of precinct data has a few updates! We've now added Florida and South Carolina precinct data to our repository. Check them out, and stay tuned for a few more states that we're juuuuuuust about to finish: buff.ly/2l4Oh0i
A hex map of the United States. Most states are greyed out, but 11 states are now hot pink, signifying that our team has collected, cleaned, and posted their precinct-level election data! Available states are: DC, DE, NC, SC, FL, TN, IL, OK, MN, SD, and MT.
May 6, 2025 at 6:00 PM
mitelectionlab.bsky.social
Today we have *two* graphs of election administration data to update you on Wisconsin's spring election. 1st: our usual absentee visual, updated through today. 2nd: a look at counties' proportions of absentee ballots for 2025 vs. 2023. See the alt-text or visit buff.ly/envT3fn for more info!
The number of ballots applied for, sent, and returned in Wisconsin, from early March through today, in both 2025 and 2023. In 2023, 450,000 ballots had been applied for and 446,000 had been sent as of five days before the election. This year, 627,000 ballots have been applied for and 623,000 have been sent to voters. In 2023, 310,000 ballots had been returned by this point in the election calendar, compared to 475,000 this year. Whereas 122,000 in-person absentee votes were cast by this point in 2023, 242,000 have been cast this cycle. Note that data reporting for the absentee voting window began about a week earlier this year when compared to 2023. This scatterplot plots each Wisconsin county's proportion of requested absentee ballots for the 2025 Spring Election (vertical axis) against that proportion from the 2023 Spring Election. In both cases, data is from five days before Election Day. Counties along the diagonal line made up an equal proportion of the requested absentee ballots at this point in the 2023 and 2025 Spring Elections. Milwaukee and Dane Counties, which have historically been regarded as Democratic strongholds, comprise less of the total requested absentee ballots in 2025 than they did in 2023, while Waukesha and Washington Counties, which have traditionally had a Republican-leaning electorate, constitute a larger proportion this spring. Note: This is not predictive of outcomes. It may simply be a sign of Republicans being more likely to vote absentee in 2025 than in 2023.
March 27, 2025 at 8:55 PM
mitelectionlab.bsky.social
In Wisconsin's spring election this year, 408k absentee ballots have been returned so far. Visit buff.ly/QniyKcO to see more of our work tracking election administration data.
The number of ballots applied for, sent, and returned in Wisconsin, from early March through today, in both 2025 and 2023. In 2023, 429,000 ballots had been applied for and 425,000 had been sent as of six days before the election. This year, 582,000 ballots have been applied for and 578,000 have been sent to voters. In 2023, 268,000 ballots had been returned by this point in the election calendar, compared to almost 408,000 this year. Whereas 103,000 in-person absentee votes were cast by this point in 2023, 200,000 have been cast this cycle. Note that data reporting for the absentee voting window began about a week earlier this year when compared to 2023.
March 26, 2025 at 8:45 PM
mitelectionlab.bsky.social
Are you following the spring Wisconsin election? So are we! Here's a reminder that we are posting regular updates as we track election administration data over at buff.ly/AA0x5RK. For more info on what we're doing, check out our blog post: buff.ly/Bdvv85q
The number of ballots applied for, sent, and returned in Wisconsin, from early March through today, in both 2025 and 2023. In 2023, 409,000 ballots had been applied for and 405,000 had been sent as of one week before the election. This year, 539,000 ballots have been applied for and 534,000 have been sent to voters. In 2023, 233,000 ballots had been returned by this point in the election calendar, compared to almost 346,000 this year. Whereas 84,000 in-person absentee votes were cast by this point in 2023, 159,000 have been cast this cycle. Note that data reporting for the absentee voting window began about a week earlier this year when compared to 2023.
March 25, 2025 at 7:00 PM
mitelectionlab.bsky.social
ICYMI: we're tracking interesting data from a few state elections this year, starting with Wisconsin! The Badger State's begun absentee voting for its spring election; here's a look at what the ballot numbers so far look like compared to 2023:
The number of ballots applied for, sent, and returned in Wisconsin, from early March through today, in both 2025 and 2023. In 2023, 327,000 ballots had been applied for and 319,000 had been sent on the 13th day before the election. This year, 393,000 ballots have been applied for and 385,000 have been sent to voters. In 2023, 57,000 ballots had been returned by this point in the election calendar, compared to almost 86,000 this year. Whereas 15,000 in-person absentee votes were cast by this point in 2023, 34,000 have been cast this cycle. It is important to note that the absentee voting window is about a week longer this year than in 2023.
March 19, 2025 at 7:01 PM
mitelectionlab.bsky.social
There's no federal election this year, but elections are still happening! WI kicks off early voting for a spring election today, and more states have elections later this year. We'll be following a few & providing data updates; read our blog for more info! buff.ly/EfttUMM
This plot compares the total number of Wisconsin registered voters in each of the the six months before the 2025 and 2023 Spring Elections. Both years saw a spike in registrants in the data reported after a federal general election, and a gradual drop-off thereafter. In 2023, there were about 3,600,000 registered voters at the beginning of March. By comparison, in 2025, that figure was just under 3,850,000. The number of ballots applied for, sent, and returned in Wisconsin, from early March through today, in both 2025 and 2023. In 2023, just over 300,000 ballots had been applied for and nearly all had been sent on the 13th day before the election. This year, 352,000 ballots have been applied for and 343,000 have been sent to voters. In 2023, 31,000 ballots had been returned by this point in the election calendar, compared to almost 36,000 this year. It is important to note that the absentee voting window is about a week longer this year than in 2023.
March 18, 2025 at 8:00 PM
mitelectionlab.bsky.social
Happy Friday, election geeks! We're showing our love for you today by bringing you not one but TWO new states, just added to our 2024 precinct election data: https://buff.ly/4jSaoqR
A hex map of the United States. Most states are colored grey, but 9 states are hot pink, indicating that they have been added to our dataset of 2024 precinct data. Those states are: Montana, Minnesota (new!), South Dakota, Illinois (new!), Oklahoma, Tennessee, North Carolina, Delaware, and DC.
February 14, 2025 at 6:15 PM
mitelectionlab.bsky.social
Eagle-eyed viewers may have noticed that we've added another state to our 2024 precinct-level election dataset! Stay tuned for more: our team is working full steam ahead on a bevy of new states, coming soon. https://buff.ly/40RFgQS
A grey hex map of the United States. Seven states are colored bright pink, signifying that they have been added to our 2024 precinct data: MT, SD, OK, TN, NC, DE, and DC.
January 28, 2025 at 6:00 PM
mitelectionlab.bsky.social
GIG ALERT: Come work with us! We are looking for a research director to join our team ASAP; this position is a great fit for a PhD/ABD interested in helping manage a lab & contributing to a range of academic projects. More info & application are available: https://buff.ly/4jwRvtg
A red and white lawn sign that reads "Now Hiring" in black capital letters.
January 28, 2025 at 3:10 PM
mitelectionlab.bsky.social
Our staff here at the MIT Election Lab will be enjoying a well-deserved break over the holidays, resting up to bring you more data and new analyses as soon as we come back. Wishing you a happy new year -- we'll see you all in 2025!
A white hand is just visible at the bottom of this photo, holding a small American flag together with a joyful sparkler that is fizzing and popping with light. (Image taken by Stephanie McCabe, available on Unsplash.)
December 24, 2024 at 5:00 PM
mitelectionlab.bsky.social
Did you know that we're up to six completed states so far in our work to clean & publish precinct-level 2024 election return data? The team's on a roll! Check it out & keep track of our progress: https://buff.ly/3DDMaQc
A hex map of the United States. Most states are still grey and uncounted; six states are pink, indicating our team has cleaned and posted 2024 precinct-level election data for them! The pink states are Montana, South Dakota, Oklahoma, Tennessee, North Carolina, and Delaware.
December 20, 2024 at 8:30 PM
mitelectionlab.bsky.social
Ready for a good read to start your weekend? Don't miss this sneak peek at our forthcoming post-election analysis for the #ElectionsPerformance Central, featuring a look at how long it took to count the votes for the 2024 election: https://buff.ly/3Zry1gw
December 6, 2024 at 10:23 PM
mitelectionlab.bsky.social
Our director Charles Stewart gives a first look at the data from the Survey of the Performance of American Elections. Look for the 2024 data early next year, or learn more about the survey now at https://buff.ly/4igFUOn #ElectionsSummit24
A bald man in glasses gestures from a podium at a data visual projected on a screen next to him.
December 4, 2024 at 2:43 PM
mitelectionlab.bsky.social
Super interesting sneak peek at EVIC’s 2024 local election official survey today. Keep an eye out for the full results next month! @ElectionsVoting.bsky.social #ElectionsSummit24
Paul Gronke, a man in a suit with grey hair, speaks at a podium, while Paul Manson, also in a suit, stands to one side.
December 4, 2024 at 2:31 PM
mitelectionlab.bsky.social
Are you tuning into today’s Bipartisan Policy Center #ElectionsSummit24? You should! Register for the livestream before the first panel gets underway: https://buff.ly/41hItd2
A row of four orange-brown cushioned chairs on a stage in front of a blue backdrop.
December 4, 2024 at 2:02 PM
mitelectionlab.bsky.social
Another day, another state added to our 2024 precinct-level election results dataset! Please welcome South Dakota to the 2024 repository, or check out the other states already there: https://buff.ly/4eLh5ae
A hex map of the United States. All but three states are greyed out. South Dakota, Oklahoma, and Delaware are colored hot pink, indicating that their data have already been collected and included in our precinct data repository.
November 21, 2024 at 8:15 PM
mitelectionlab.bsky.social
Attention election data nerds! We have added a second state to our 2024 precinct-level election results data collection: Oklahoma, where the wind comes sweepin' down the plain! https://buff.ly/4eAoHfU
A hexagonal map of the US. All of the states are grey, except for Delaware and Oklahoma, which are hot pink.
November 18, 2024 at 9:15 PM
mitelectionlab.bsky.social
IMPORTANT UPDATE for all our election nerd friends, new and old: our 2024 election data collection efforts are officially underway! We've published our first dataset of precinct-level election results: from Delaware, an early certifier. Find it here: https://buff.ly/3Z4pQI2
A hex map of the United States, titled "Progress of 2024 precinct data." All the states are greyed out, except for Delaware, which has been colored in hot pink.
November 14, 2024 at 8:15 PM
mitelectionlab.bsky.social
The Kentucky electorate has more Republicans than four years ago, with almost 100,000 more Republicans and more than 150,000 fewer Democrats in October 2024 than in October 2020.
The change in the number of Republicans, Democrats, or all other voters between each month of 2020 and the corresponding month in 2024. Kentucky had consistently gained net more than 100,000 Republicans each month of 2024 compared to the same month in 2020 until August, when the net gain in Republicans dipped to a net increase of about 70 to 80 thousand in September and October. Each month Democrats were consistently fewer by more than 150,000 net voters compared to 2020, while all other voters gained about 50,000 net voters between 2020 and 2024, a change that held steady throughout the year.
November 5, 2024 at 10:15 PM
mitelectionlab.bsky.social
Our last look at Georgia comes with a little bonus for you today! We've included a second graph that shows *just* the 2024 mail-in ballot numbers; about 270,000 voters returned their mail ballots by the day before the election.
The number of mail-in ballots issued and accepted, and the number of early in-person votes cast, in Georgia in the leadup to the 2020 and 2024 elections. In 2020, more than 1 million absentee ballots were sent to voters about 47 days before the election, and climbed to about 1.7 million a week before the election. In 2024, that number started around 200,000 30 days before the election and has climbed to nearly 350,000. In 2020, about 1.3 million ballots had been returned by the day before the election, compared to under 270,000 in 2024. In-person early voting in 2020 reached about 2.7 million in 2020 when the early voting period ended, compared to over 3.8 million in 2024. The number of mail-in ballots issued and accepted in Georgia in the leadup to the 2024 election. In 2024, the number of absentee ballots sent jumped from about 15,000 to around 200,000 30 days before the election and has climbed to around 350,000. In 2024, about 270,000 ballots had been returned by the day before the election.
November 5, 2024 at 8:00 PM
mitelectionlab.bsky.social
A final look at Pennsylvania: the Keystone State saw about 1.9 million mail ballots cast, with about 55% from registered Democrats and about 33% from Republicans.
The number of ballots sent and returned in 2020 and 2024, starting 31 days before each election. Ballots began to be returned slightly earlier in 2024 than in 2020, with about 76% returned so far in 2024 compared to about 73% so far in 2020. However, at this point in 2020 nearly 3 million ballots had been requested with close to 2 million returned, compared to about 2.2 million requested in 2024 and nearly 1.9 million returned. The proportion of all returned ballots that have been returned by members of each party, in 2020 and 2024, starting 31 days before the election. In 2024, over 70% of all returned ballots had been cast by Democrats, 20% by Republicans, and about 10% by other voters. Since then the share of Democrats has fallen closer to 55%, and the share of Republicans has risen to just about one third of returned ballots, with other voters remaining around 10%. This is a faster convergence and a closer distribution than in 2020, when returned ballots a month out were around 75% from Democrats and 15% Republicans, ultimately reaching about 65% Democrat and 25% Republican on Election Day.
November 5, 2024 at 7:00 PM
mitelectionlab.bsky.social
In Nevada, slightly over half a million voters have cast mail ballots in this election.
The number of Nevada mail ballots accepted each day in the month before the election by party, starting 31 days before November 5, 2024. Democrats consistently lead; as of October 30, about 220,000 ballots from registered Democrats had been recorded, compared to 165,000 for Republicans, 135,000 for those not registered with a party, and 35,000 for Other registrants.
November 5, 2024 at 6:00 PM
mitelectionlab.bsky.social
Mail ballots cast in North Carolina passed the 250,000 mark, with unaffiliated/minor party voters casting a plurality of over 100,000 ballots total over the early voting period.
This graph shows counts of accepted mail in ballots for 2020 and 2024 by party, starting one month before the election. Mail ballot counts climbed gradually in both 2020 and 2024 though there were significantly more in 2020 than in 2024 for all parties. 2 day prior to the election 68,000 Republicans, 92,000 Democrats, and 103,000 voters with no party affiliation or a minor party affiliation have cast ballots. At the equivalent time in 2020, 210,000 Republicans, 430,000 Democrats, and 350,000 voters with no party affiliation or a minor party affiliation had cast ballots.
November 5, 2024 at 5:30 PM