Can someone explain to me how the networks - call a winner

luvmykids wrote: when they aren't even fully reported? Just an example, they called KY for McCain at 55% to 44% but only 58% of precincts reporting, and there are at least a dozen states they've called one way or the other....why do they do that? And then there are other states with a higher % reporting that they haven't called yet...how do they decide when to call a state and when to wait until all precincts have reported? I'd so much rather just wait until the numbers are sure

I'm trying to convince myself to change the channel and just see what the news is in the morning

My3LilMonkeys replied: I have no idea....I know they called PA at about 7:50 here - the polls weren't even closed yet....

I was just going to skip it all and see who won in the morning, but DH is at work and wants me to text him updates so I have to pay attention.

My3LilMonkeys replied: Even weirder - according to MSN, they called Minnesota for Obama. But when you click on the state, the stats are Obama 49%, McCain 49% with only 2% of precincts reporting.

Danalana replied: I know! New Mexico is blue already...when you click on it, McCain is leading by A LOT.

boyohboyohboy replied: I just said the same thing, pa said only 40% reported and yet it went to obama??

Kentuckychick replied: They use exit polls used during the voting process. They are usually very accurate.

Also, Kentucky is just one example of a VERY easy to see it coming state -- 58% of the precincts may be reporting, but 90% of the more democratic precincts may have already reported... or maybe the final precincts are the smaller ones. It just depends. Rest assured... my state is going to McCain...

New Mexico is like Kentucky, only democract. The chances of that state ending up voting Republican is very very low. If you watch the news you'll see the breakdown of the states by size of area and by whether they typically vote dem. or rep. That is what they go by.

It almost always works.

luvmykids replied: Ok, but right this second when the CA polls closed, they called it for Obama and announced him the winner. But when you click on it on the electoral map on msnbc, it shows 0 precincts, Obama 44% and McCain 55% yet they called it Obama and declared him the winner....so even if that is based on exit polls, what gives?

Kentuckychick replied:
I don't know how they do their maps... but I saw a lot of 55% - 44%... so I'm just wondering if that's just a random set thing.

Looks like McCain's conceding anyway...
Sorry to the McCain fans.

redchief replied: Most of the late reporting voting precincts throughout the country are rural. When they say 40% of precincts reporting, they're not saying they only have 40% of the vote tally in - it's usually far greater than that. So, that's how they can call a state without the majority of precincts reported.

MommyToAshley replied: They actually called PA with 0% of the precinct in and only 12,000 votes tallied. They had to use exit polling to call that state. They're usually right, but not always. They have had to "uncall" a state or put it back into play during an election. They did that in 2000. That's one of the reasons why I don't think they should report anything until after ALL states have closed their polling station. I'm sure some peopleon the West coast don't even bother to vote based on the the networks calling the states for a particular candidate.

For the closer states, they actually look at the precincts. If it is a close race, but the precincts that are still out tradionally vote one way and the exit polling highly favors one candidate then they call it. But, if the precincts that are still out are a toss up... that's when they wait until there is a larger majority of the precincts counted.

msoulz replied:

ITA with that! Either they don't vote or their vote may be swayed by the "results" being forecast.

luvmykids replied:
Thats one of the problems I have with them being so anxious to report.