Earliest New York Times Presidential Election Map

[Јas]

Matthew Ericson, deputy graphics director at The New York Times, has put up on his blog some of the NYT's earliest election maps.

The earliest is 1896: McKinley v Bryan - published the day after the election:


Quite a few errors - but a daring effort to publish such a map what must have been only hours after polls closed.

[memphis]

It didn't occur to them they could print a pattern over states that were too close to call? Also, no numbers?

[Antonio the Sixth]

LOL, so they miscalled VA and NC ?

Also, territories have the same shade as McKinley States?

[Joe Republic]

I recommend that Dave begin redrawing his maps so that Democrats are shown in black and Republicans in white.

[RI]

They only miscalled seven states, all in favor of McKinley... In their defense, they were all fairly close, except for Washington, which Bryan won by 15.

[Јas]

Also, no numbers?

A 1904 innovation...

It didn't occur to them they could print a pattern over states that were too close to call?

Not until 1916...


Though this still contained some wrong calls (NH, ID, MN).

[Antonio the Sixth]

The Northeast in the 1916 map is hilariously ugly.

[minionofmidas]

I recommend that the silly phrase "too close to call" be retired in favor of "doubtful".

[J. J.]

I recommend that the silly phrase "too close to call" be retired in favor of "doubtful".

It was actually the phrase used throughout the late 1800's.