Why we no longer use “venue reports” in our election night coverage

The way we vote has changed.

We used to request a vote by mail or go to our local school, church or library to vote for them in person. Now, all registered voters in California receive a ballot and can vote in person. Many Californians go to a polling station.

It should not be near your home. You can vote at any polling station as long as it’s in the county where you live. You can even vote early.

As the way we vote evolves, so do the votes. During the previous election, as the results come in, we’ve shown you the percentage of venues that report so you can know how far the vote count is.

An enclosure is a geographic area with a single polling place where voters vote. Remember when you used to vote at your local school or library? This was your polling place.

Once the polls are closed, the votes of each district will be counted and the number of reports will increase.

Now, with more mail in voting and with many counties using the polling center model, venues no longer play such an important role in how votes are classified.

So, on election night, as the results arrive, we will use a new estimated number to show you the distance from the vote count.

We call it the “estimated total vote.” This issue will come from the Associated Press, a source we have used for many years to get election results.

The PA uses many data points to estimate the degree of vote counting, including turnout in the last election, the number of votes cast in advance, and early returns.

This estimate may vary as more results arrive and the PA learns more about how many people vote. But it will help us give you the most accurate description of the number of votes counted as the election unfolds.