Exit polls are by no means an accurate measure of which candidate chose to vote on Election Day. But they can be an indication of what happened, and why. Take this national exit poll of the 2024 presidential race conducted by NBC and a consortium of news organizations. It’s a great example of how clear, simple images can tell a deep election story with just a glance.
This chart, one of the poll’s most popular demographic breakdowns, filters the data through the lens of “sex by race,” with blue representing Democratic voters, red representing Republican voters, and gray for other candidates.
As NBC explains, exit polls provide insight into the thought processes and motivations of voters across the country (they do not provide actual voting results). They serve as a tool to improve public understanding of the composition and motivations of voters.
According to the chart, the largest demographic groups leaning toward Trump were white men and white women, accounting for 71% of the total vote. Latino men also represent a major shift to the right. At the time, Black voters were running for Democrats, and Black women were the strongest Democratic party.
Of course, this chart is only one page of the full story. NBC age data reveals that Gen X voted for Trump in both genders, despite the repeal Roe v. Wade, Trump’s decision to become a sex offender, the Stormy Daniels case, and a long trail of misconduct.
The chart is simple, yes, but the narrative it tells is very complex.
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