What is this map trying to tell us? :)

[solarstorm]

The winner gets a cookie.

[Smid]

It's something to do with how consistently the state votes for a single party. DC, MN, the Dakotas, NE, KS, OK, WY, ID, UT and Alaska are all lightly shaded, and have voted for the same party consistently for quite some time. Not sure how far back the map goes - someone else could speculate on that, I'm sure, but given MN being in the lightest ban, it mustn't include Nixon's landslide.

[5280]

The map shows how accurate each state votes for the winner for the presidential candidate (i.e. bellwether state).

[solarstorm]

It's something to do with how consistently the state votes for a single party. DC, MN, the Dakotas, NE, KS, OK, WY, ID, UT and Alaska are all lightly shaded, and have voted for the same party consistently for quite some time. Not sure how far back the map goes - someone else could speculate on that, I'm sure, but given MN being in the lightest ban, it mustn't include Nixon's landslide.

You're very good at reasoning.
So, what is the correct answer? You almost got it right.

[Smid]

It's something to do with how consistently the state votes for a single party. DC, MN, the Dakotas, NE, KS, OK, WY, ID, UT and Alaska are all lightly shaded, and have voted for the same party consistently for quite some time. Not sure how far back the map goes - someone else could speculate on that, I'm sure, but given MN being in the lightest band, it mustn't include Nixon's landslide.

You're very good at reasoning.
So, what is the correct answer? You almost got it right.

I'd have to say, frequency with which the state has changed parties in presidential elections since (and including) 1976.

[solarstorm]

I'd have to say, frequency with which the state has changed parties in presidential elections since (and including) 1976.

Exactly, since 1976; i.e. the last 10 elections.
You've won the cookie.

[Smid]

I like these sort of guessing maps which are fact based/quantitative (as opposed to "have a guess what two candidates I'm thinking of when I show you this map").