We've all seen maps in which the U.S. counties are painted red or blue depending on which side got 51% of the vote or more.
One researcher chose to use shades of purple for counties which were not lop-sided. He observes that purple counties have become less common. In 2024 some purple counties turned bright red.
From the article:
Back in 2000, most maps of election results showed states colored either red or blue depending on which side had more votes in that state – Republican George W. Bush or Democrat Al Gore. But that one-or-the-other approach didn’t match up with an election that was so close, it was ultimately decided by
537 votes in Florida.
But he is mistaken. That one-or-the-other approach
shouldn’t match up with an election that was so close. But it
does, because that's the daft way US Presidents are chosen.
The 2000 election was ultimately decided by
one vote. Florida's. Because American
citizens don't elect Presidents; American
states do.
