A-Report

Advance voting data as provided to the AP on election night, which may include absentee votes, early votes, or a combination of these. A-reports do not necessarily represent all of the advance votes. A-reports could include only the early votes (if the state has early voting), or early votes plus some of the absentee mail ballot votes, or only some of the mail ballot votes.

A-reports are almost exclusively compiled by the AP when they are available as the first report of the night in a county. The AP predominantly captures advance votes as one or zero precinct reporting. Some states do not provide A-reports. In states where the AP is provided with A-reports, they may not be provided for each county.

Absentee In-Person

Absentee ballots cast in person. This type of voting requires an application, but the process is often streamlined, so that the voter can apply for the ballot, receive it and cast it in one visit to a county election office.

Absentee Mail

Absentee mail ballot votes (may include ballots deposited in drop boxes, overseas & military ballots, and so on).

Absentee Total

Absentee vote total, which may be a sum of Absentee In-Person and/or Absentee Mail, or populated when a further breakdown is not available.

Actively Tabulating

Indicates that vote tabulation activities are underway.

Advance Total

Advance vote total (votes cast prior to Election Day), which may be the sum of the Early In-Person, Absentee In-Person and/or Absentee Mail vote types, or populated when a further breakdown is not available.

Affidavit

See Provisional Ballot

Ballot

A list of candidates and proposed laws that voters mark to make choices. A ballot may be made of paper and marked with a pen or hole punch. Or it may be electronic, and voters mark their choices with the push of a button or by touch screen.

Ballot Measure

A proposed law, constitutional amendment or other question placed on the ballot for voters to approve or reject. Such questions are often referred by the state legislature or initiated by citizens via petition. Examples include Amendment, Initiative, Issue, Measure, Proposal, Proposition, Referendum and Question.

Ballot Issue

See Ballot Measure

Caucus

A meeting held by members of a party to decide an issue. In states where they are held, caucuses are the most local level of participation for party members. They are held locally across the state, particularly in presidential election years.

Members of a party choose a candidate to support and/or they elect members to the next level of the party's caucus/convention system.

Certified Results

The final, official vote totals provided by each state or, in some cases, individual counties. They may be made available to the AP anywhere between a few days to over a month after the election.

Closed Primary

See Primary

Constituent

A person who lives, works, or pays taxes in an area that a politician represents.

Delegate

An individual chosen to represent their jurisdiction at the next level of their state party's caucus/convention system. National convention delegates represent their state or district at their party's national political convention.

• Pledged delegates are allocated to their candidates during presidential primaries or caucuses. They remain pledged to their candidates unless they are freed or reallocated to another candidate, depending on state and party rules for candidate withdrawal. Pledged delegate types include:

• District delegates are pledged delegates who are usually associated with congressional districts (occasionally with state legislative districts).

• At-large delegates are considered statewide delegates.

• PLEO delegates are pledged Democratic party leaders and elected officials; for example, big city mayors, legislative leaders and county party officials.

• Unpledged (or super) delegates are not bound by any prior presidential primary or caucus results in the states. They are generally party officials and veteran politicians who will attend the Democratic or Republican National Convention regardless of whom they support. The AP allocates these delegates to candidates based on delegate interviews and/or public statements by the delegates. These delegates may change their minds on whom they support.

District

A geographical area that an elected official serves or represents. See also Jurisdiction Type.

Downballot Races

Any races other than the U.S. President, U.S. Senate, U.S. House and Governor races.

Downticket Races

See Downballot Races.

Early In-Person

(Also Early Votes) Votes cast in person at an early voting location before Election Day (if applicable).

EEVP

See Expected Vote Percentage

Election Date

An election date is the calendar date on which the election is held.

Election Day In-Person

(Also known as "poll votes," "polling place votes" or "vote center votes") Votes cast in person at a polling place or vote center on Election Day (may also include Provisional votes in certification).

Election Event

Nominating event(s) and/or election(s) occurring in a state on a common date that share a similar set of tabulation characteristics, mainly reporting units and poll close time. An event may include a primary, general election, special election and/or runoff. Special elections are only included if tabulated.

• In presidential years, events also include 1st tier caucus and party-run events for states and U.S. territories.

• In midterm years, events include all tabulated elections.

• In odd years, events include statewide elections, major municipal dates, special federal and legislative elections.

A state may have two separate events on the same date, for example, in presidential years when state party-run nominating events may occur at different times with a different set of reporting units.

Elector

A person who is certified to represent their state's vote in the Electoral College.

Electoral Votes

The state's votes in the Electoral College, the process Americans use to elect the President and Vice President. The number of electors a state receives is equal to that state's number of U.S. Senators and Representatives. Those electors then gather to cast the state's votes in the Electoral College. They vote for the candidate who won in their state during a presidential election.

Election Type

A combination of the category of election (for example, General Election, Primary, Caucus) and, if needed, the party; for example, Dem Primary, GOP Primary.

Event Type

An election type (for example, General Election, Caucus, Dem Primary) or “Combined” for dates that have multiple election types occurring on the same day; for example, Wisconsin Spring GE and Presidential Primary.

Expected Vote Percentage

(Also EEVP) The Estimated Expected Vote Percentage for a race is available at the state, county and CD level. It is calculated as the total votes tabulated for the race within the state/county/CD, divided by an AP internally assigned “estimated expected total votes” parameter for the specific race. The “estimated expected total votes” is determined by AP’s proprietary research, knowledge, and expertise. The EEVP will vary over the course of the election night tabulation, based on the incoming total votes at any given time for the race, and will represent the percentage of the total votes that AP estimates will eventually be certified.

The EEVP is an optional value that may be used in addition to (or instead of) the Precincts Reporting value to determine the progress of the election on election night. The maximum value for EEVP during tabulation is 99%, which indicates AP estimates that almost all ballots cast have been counted. The EEVP value will not be set to 100% until election officials complete the certification process and declare the election results as final and official.

FIPS Code

FIPS county codes are five-digit Federal Information Processing Standard U.S. county identifiers. In New England, FIPS codes can be used to aggregate RU-level (city/town) results to the county level.

Fusion Candidate

A candidate listed on the ballot more than once under multiple parties, which is allowed in certain states; for example, NY, CT and SC.

General Election

A race or collection of races in which race candidates compete to win election to an office, with voting participation open to the entire electorate within the office's jurisdiction. Candidates in a general election race are usually the winner(s) of preceding nominating events (most often a party primary), and others who may have secured ballot placement by petition. Races in a general election may require a subsequent runoff if no candidate in the race secures enough votes to win.

General elections happen at a local, state and national level, and may be regularly scheduled or special elections called to fill a vacancy. Ballot measures races that are not specific to party business are also considered general elections.

Incumbent

A current holder of an elected office. During an election, a candidate is labeled as an incumbent if they are seeking re-election to their current legislative body or public office. For example, a current member of the U.S. House of Representatives seeking any seat in the U.S. House will be labeled as an incumbent; a current member of the U.S. House of Representatives seeking election to the U.S. Senate will NOT be labeled as an incumbent.

Incumbents may seek re-election in a district with different boundaries and district names than in the preceding election. This happens most often as a result of redistricting. For example, a U.S. House member currently representing a state's 1st Congressional District seeking re-election to the U.S. House in the state's newly created 2nd Congressional District is still an incumbent. This means that it is possible for a race to feature two or more incumbents.

Jurisdiction Type

Indicates whether an office is statewide (covers all RUs in a state), local (RU-level) or uses legislative or judicial body districts; for example, Congressional Districts, State House Districts, Delegate Districts.

Key Ballot Measures

Ballot measures deemed editorially important by the AP; for example, those related to abortion or cannabis legalization.

Key Races

Any Top-of-the-Ticket (TTT) or downballot races deemed editorially important by the AP plus Key Ballot Measures.

Major Candidate

(Also Editorial Candidate) A candidate in a race who is considered one of the most important by the AP News Department.

Midterm Election

The federal election for members of Congress held between presidential elections. May also include state offices such as statewide executive and state legislature, judicial races and/or other local elections.

National Ballot Measures

Ballot measures of national interest, which are included in the Top-of-the-Ticket Races.

National Races

See Top-of-the-Ticket Races

Nominee

The final candidate chosen to represent a party in an election. May also include any candidate who qualifies for a general election.

Office

A combination of an Office Type and, if needed, a Seat Name; for example, President, Governor, U.S. House District 2.

Office Type

The name of a governmental or legislative body where officials are elected or the type of ballot measure; for example, Governor, U.S. House, State Senate, Amendment, Question. Adding new office types is uncommon and is typically needed only for local offices or new ballot measure types.

Open Primary

(Also All-Party Primary) See Primary

Polling Place

(Also Polling Station) The location in which you cast your vote. Your area may hold voting in schools, churches, community centers, or other central public places. Your polling place is assigned based on your legal address.

Popular Vote

The votes cast during an election for a candidate or about an issue (ballot measure). Whichever candidate or decision about an issue gets the most votes has won the popular vote. (U.S. president and vice president are determined by an Electoral College vote.)

Precinct

Each city, county, or geographic area is divided by address into precincts to assign polling places and gather votes. A precinct is the smallest voting unit. A poll site may have one or more precincts. A precinct can also be called an Election District (in New York) or voting district.

Precincts Reporting

The percentage and actual number of precincts that have reported votes out of the total number of precincts.

Primary

(Open Primary, Closed Primary) An election held to choose which of a party's candidates will be nominated for the general election. In an open primary, all voters can vote for any candidate they prefer, regardless of the voter’s or candidate's party affiliation. In a closed primary, voters can only vote for a candidate from the party that the voter belongs to.

Proportional Precincts

Used for Precincts Reporting if a state is all mail-ballot (no physical precincts); for example, in Washington State, Oregon, Colorado, or if a state has voting centers in some or all counties resulting in votes not being attributed to a home precinct. When proportional precincts are used, they may vary slightly from precinct numbers seen on county websites. Total Precincts Reporting may go up and down throughout tabulation as AP adjusts the expected vote according to actual turnout.

Provisional Ballot

(Also Affidavit) Type of ballot used when there are questions about the voter's identity or eligibility to vote. Votes cast by provisional ballot are counted when the voter's identity or eligibility is confirmed. In certified results, provisional votes are often merged within another vote type.

Race

A combination of an Office and a Race Type Name, such as an office that is up for reelection during a specific election event (for example, General Election or Dem Primary). In a closed primary, there is more than one race for the same office; for example, a Dem Governor race and a GOP Governor race.

Race Call

A race is called when a winner is declared or when the race is advancing to a runoff.

Race Type

A basic race type, which is a combination of an election category (for example, General, Primary, Runoff) and, if needed, another qualifier, such as Special. The specific party is not part of the basic partisan race type; it is included in the Race Type Name. Some examples of basic race types are General, Special General, Primary, Runoff, Caucus, Convention.

Race Type Name

A combination of a basic Race Type and, if needed, a party; for example, General, Dem Primary, GOP Runoff, Dem Caucus, GOP Convention. Race type is more specific than election event type.

Recall Election

An election for voters to choose whether to remove an elected official from office before the end of the official's term. A recall election can generally take place if enough voters sign a petition asking for one.

Rules on the number of voters needed and the officials who can be recalled are different from state to state. Federal officials cannot be recalled, including President, Vice President, Representatives, Senators and federal judges.

Recount

Counting the votes again because of a suspected error in totaling them the first time. Additionally, when the percent difference between two candidates is below a certain threshold, a recount may be required by state law or requested by the losing candidate or a group petitioning on their behalf. The AP does not call a race when a recount is required.

Referendum

A proposed new law or a proposal to repeal an existing law, passed to the voters to approve or reject.

Reporting Unit (RU)

Reporting Units (RUs) are the units at which AP is tabulating the results; typically, counties (called parishes in Louisiana). In New England, towns and cities are the RUs for elections. In Alaska, the AP tabulates votes only at the state level. Delegate districts during the presidential primaries are also considered RUs.

RU Children

(Also County Children) An intermediary reporting unit level between precinct and county in a small number of counties in the US. AP tabulates at the county child level, and these results are aggregated to the county level. Examples of RU children are municipalities within Detroit, assembly districts within the NYC County boroughs, and City of Chicago and suburbs within Cook County, IL.

Runoff

A second election that is held when the winner of the first election did not get the minimum percentage of votes required by the state.

Seat Name

(Optional, typically not applicable to statewide office types) The name of the jurisdiction (typically, district) for legislative or judicial bodies (for example, "District 2"), the name of the ballot measure or judicial retention question (for example, "820 - Legalize Recreational Marijuana").

Seat Number

(Optional number, typically not applicable to statewide offices or ballot measures) The number of the jurisdiction (typically, district) for legislative or judicial bodies; for example, 2 in "U.S. House District 2".

Special Election

An election to fill a vacant position if an officeholder dies, resigns, or is impeached. It is not part of the regular election schedule.

Statewide Races

Races that are voted on by the entire state, and therefore by every RU, and therefore by every precinct; for example, President, Governor, U.S. Senate, Statewide Ballot Measures, Lieutenant Governor, Secretary of State, Attorney General, statewide judicial races.

Super Tuesday

The day when the most states and territories hold presidential primary elections or caucuses. The candidates who win on Super Tuesday are considered more likely to win their party’s nomination.

Term

The set length of time for someone to serve in an elected office. The President and Vice President of the United States serve a four-year term. U.S. representatives serve two years, and U.S. senators serve six years.

Term Limit

The total amount of terms that an officeholder is allowed to serve in a particular position. Laws set term limits for elected offices.

No one can serve more than two terms as President of the United States. There are no laws about term limits for U.S. representatives or senators. Term limits for governors and other elected officials are different in each state and locality.

Top-of-the-Ticket Races

(Also TTT Races or National Races) The U.S. President, U.S. Senate, U.S. House and Governor races plus any ballot measures of national interest (National Ballot Measures).

TTT Races

See Top-of-the-Ticket Races

Uncontested Race

A race is uncontested when the office is scheduled to be up for election, but the number of qualified candidates (often the incumbents) is the same as the number of winners.

All the uncontested races are called at the same time, at poll close. If a state has two time zones, the uncontested races are called after the second poll close.

Verified Results

AP has confirmed with an election official (or an election official’s website) that the current votes received are valid.

Vote Center

Some states have vote centers in some or all counties, where any voter in the county can vote at a central location, and their vote is not attributed to a home precinct.

Vote Type

Indicates how the ballot was cast; for example, Election Day In-Person, Early In-Person, Absentee by Mail or Absentee In-Person.