This document provides instructions for creating election maps by precinct using Depiction mapping software. It outlines the steps to find precinct boundary data and election results data, prepare the data by converting it to CSV format, and then merge the data with the precinct boundaries in Depiction. Colorization is then used to map the results based on variables like vote percentages. The process allows for creating visual election maps at the local precinct level for analysis.

1. Hyperlocal Election Mapping
Made Easy
Timothy Goddard, Depiction, Inc.

2. Election Results by Precinct
+ Precinct maps _
Election Maps

3. • Finding the data
• Preparing the data
• Merging the data
• Colorizing the data

4. • Finding the data
• Preparing the data
• Merging the data
• Colorizing the data
Using Depiction

5. What is Depiction?
• Mapping, Simulation & Collaboration
Software
• Bringing expert-level capabilities (like
election mapping) to everyday people
• Used in emergency management, real
estate, small business and more.

6. • Finding the data
–This is the hard part!
–Two data types:
•Map/GIS Data
•Election Results

7. Finding the Data
• Map/GIS Data
– “Precincts” or “Voting Districts”
– Accessible at the Statewide or County level
– Shapefile format
– If not available online, try calling

8. • Statewide:
• County:

9. Finding the Data
• Election data
– Precinct level results
– From different agencies
• Statewide
– Secretary of state, board of elections
• County level
– Auditor, clerk, registrar, elections division
– Usually not in a spreadsheet format
• Which it needs to be!
• Best option—call & ask for a spreadsheet or similar
document

10. • Preparing the data
–Turn it into a spreadsheet
–Save it as CSV
–Different types take different
methods

11. Preparing Data
• Election Result Data Types
– Spreadsheets
• These are great & easy!

12. Preparing Data
• Election Result Data Types
– Delimited
– Paste into Excel
– ‘Text to Columns’
Semicolon:

13. Preparing Data
• Election Result Data Types
– HTML Tables
• Easiest tool: TableTools extension for FireFox
• Copy as tab-
delimited text
• Paste into Excel

14. Preparing Data
• Election Result Data Types
– More difficult types
• Straight Text
• Multiple HTML Tables
– Copy/Paste the whole thing
into Excel
– “Slice & Dice” the
data

15. • Slicing & Dicing
– Filtering
• To separate out columns
• Paste into new sheet

16. • Slicing & Dicing
– Search & Replace
• To remove extraneous information

17. • Slicing & Dicing
– Text to Columns
• To split off extraneous information
that isn’t all identical

18. • Slicing & Dicing
– Do this column by column to build your
spreadsheet
• Keep everything in its original order!
• If necessary, split the
precinct number into its
own column

19. Preparing Data
• Preparing GIS Data
– Create a new Depiction file
– Set the area you want
– Import the Shapefile into Depiction
• (just drag & drop!)

20. • Finishing election data preparation
– Be sure to include the precinct number or other
unique identifier as a column
– Name the unique identifier column “EID”
– The EID, or ‘Element ID’ is what will match the
precinct shapes to the election information.

21. • Add vote percentage columns
– Add a column for the one candidate percentages.
– Add a formula that calculates the percentage—
something like: =B2/(B2+C2)
– ‘Fill down’ the entire column
– Do the same for the second candidate. Something
like: =C2/(B2+C2)
– Set the decimal places to desired number (2-4,
probably)
– Save as CSV and close it.

22. • Preparing GIS Data
– Find the unique precinct identifier field that
matches your voting data
• “PRECINCTNUM”,“NUMBER” “Name,” etc
• Export it all to GML
• Delete the elements

23. • Preparing GIS Data
– Open the GML in a text editor
– Search & replace the precinct field name with EID
– Also remove
the “description”
field
– Save the GML
delete the
.xsd file
– Import the GML back into Depiction.

24. Merging the Data
• Import the CSV
– Just drag, drop, and click ‘import’

25. Merging the data
• Wait for the import to complete
– As long as your EIDs match up correctly, the new data
should be appended to the precinct elements.
– An alert will say
nothing was
imported, because
no new elements
were added.
– But new fields
should be present

26. Colorizing the Data
• Click “Colorize”
• Select “thematic mapping”
• Choose one of the percent
fields as the property value.
• Set the colors, click OK.
• You can also use a “Manual range selection”
– 0 – 1 for absolute coloring
– .499 - .501 for binary “red/blue” coloring
– .25 - .75 for more distinct absolute coloring

27. Tada!
Allegheny Co,
Pennsylvania
2010 Senate
Election

28. Tips & Tricks
• Be sure your precinct data is up to date
• Be patient when dealing with hundreds or
thousands of precincts
• Do spot checks to be sure your data is correct
– Between original election data & final CSV
– Between original election data & final depiction
• Set hovertext for the precincts to name and both
candidate percentages & total votes
• To compare multiple elections, delete the EID
field, re-import the GML and repeat merge w/
new data

29. For more information:
www.depiction.com