Civics Specimens
Elections
How ballots are counted, how certification works, what recounts can and can't do — the mechanisms most often misrepresented in election coverage.
Specimen No. 1
Media Projection vs. Certified Result
View this guide →
Specimen No. 2
Electoral College Mechanics Misrepresented
View this guide →
Specimen No. 3
Certification vs. Concession Confusion
View this guide →
Specimen No. 4
Recount Trigger Misunderstanding
View this guide →
Specimen No. 5
Late-Counted Ballots Framed as Suspicious
View this guide →
Specimen No. 6
Gerrymandering Shown by Map Shape Alone
View this guide →
Specimen No. 7
Voter Roll Maintenance Called 'Purging'
View this guide →
Specimen No. 8
Exit Poll Misread as Final Result
View this guide →
Specimen No. 9
Chain-of-Custody Procedures Misread as Suspicious
View this guide →
Specimen No. 10
Margin of Error Ignored in Polling
View this guide →
Specimen No. 11
Ballot Measure Title vs. Effect Mismatch
View this guide →
Specimen No. 12
Turnout Percentage Base Switching
View this guide →