Elections can be emotionally challenging, but the feelings of disappointment and disillusionment may be especially acute for those whose preferred candidate did not win. In fact, the results of any election can trigger a range of emotions from pride and optimism to anger, frustration and fear. And the uncertainty surrounding the results can also increase stress, anxiety and a sense of powerlessness.
Regardless of the outcome, however, voters should have confidence that their votes were counted accurately and the winner was determined fairly. Providing timely, transparent and accurate information about the voting process is key to fostering voter confidence. This is why we believe that a well-designed election process should provide a wide range of data on vote counting and other factors.
In the United States, for example, a number of state-level data is published about the vote counts. These include the official electoral college map (shown above), which indicates which states are blue or red, and how many votes each state received from the presidential candidate. This data can help people understand how the electoral system works and what effect state-level results might have on national elections.
In addition, some countries release a range of other data on voting processes and results. For example, in the recent elections in Georgia and Ukraine, election commissions announced turnout results at specific intervals throughout the day. In Tunisia, the Electoral Commission publishes detailed data on the entire voting process. And in South Africa, the Electoral Commission provides public access to results information at each stage of the count, including at the ward, district, regional/provincial and national levels.