25 News has partnered with a Michigan company to bring you election results and breakdowns of local races using state-of-the-art technology.
The election results will be digital, colorful and show you races in real-time.
They’re tools you normally see on national networks but we're bringing the 25 News real-time map to your home.
As results come in, 25 News journalists will be able to see them and share them right from the software while also having the capability to refer to previous races.
The software lets us break things down by county to show you results in real time. It’s designed by Kevin Ferrara and his partner at Magis Media.
“It’s kinda like a breaking news scene and you’re going out and you’re seeing the numbers come in,” said Ferrara. “It’s more of a conversation. It’s not just talking to the viewer it’s talking with the viewer and explaining the situation you’re seeing unfold in front of you.”
Roughly two dozen TV markets around the country will use the software Tuesday night. From Los Angeles, California to here in Central Texas, journalists will be able to share live data with viewers as it comes in.
“It allows local stations to take viewers beyond the numbers. We’re able to graphically illustrate on a heat map where are votes are coming from – which counties are voting red or blue, or which counties are 50-50.”
That gives viewers a deeper look at what’s driving the numbers in our state. The darker the red, the more Republican votes. Those showing up dark blue means more Democrat votes.
“So what the heat mapping does is...show you how you and your neighbors are voting but it also shows you how that’s feeding up to feed into the whole state and driving our electoral vote for the United States,” said Ferrara.
You will be able to watch your votes be tallied in real-time. City and township clerks turn their numbers into their respective counties. Then, the Associated Press takes those numbers and plugs them into the system.
“There’s still gonna be points where we’re gonna want to talk about numbers. We don’t just want to take you around and roll you around with fancy maps and stuff, we want to be able to convey to the viewer the story that’s happening,” he said.
Polls close at 7pm Election Night in Texas.
We’ll bring you coverage throughout the day on air, on the KXXV.com website and our 25 News OTT mobile app with live results and reaction to different races.
Don't forget to download the 25 News app if you haven't already! iOS users click here. Android users click here.
