Here are a few simple steps taken to gather and report election data.
- Multiple sources provide vote results throughout Election Day
- Data is checked for accuracy
- NBC News independently analyzes the data
- Results and projections are delivered quickly
Multiple sources provide vote results throughout Election Day
In the 2026 primaries, votes will be collected in all 50 states for statewide offices (U.S. Senate, governor, lieutenant governor, secretary of state, attorney general), the House of Representatives, key ballot measures, and other races of national interest.
Data collection is done through multiple sources on Election Day, with data reporters and interviewers across the country calling in county- and precinct-level results on a timely and rolling basis all day long. Vote data is also collected through state and county websites and feeds.
Data is checked for accuracy
Vote results are rigorously checked and verified. Part of quality control involves checking that vote data is consistent across sources, and we also compare the vote to past election results to see whether the results look extremely different across multiple past races. NBC News Decision Desk analysts, along with computer software, trigger quality control alerts. Any votes that fail the quality control check receive rigorous additional review.
NBC News independently analyzes the data
NBC News race projections are completely independent of other news outlets. The Decision Desk independently analyzes vote and uses proprietary techniques and statistical models to decide when races can be projected.
Results and projections are delivered quickly
Vote data is made available on NBC platforms as quickly as possible. The Decision Desk must reach at least a 99.5% confidence level in its projection before calling a race.
Frequently Asked Questions
How are votes reported?
Data reporters across the country are talking to local election officials and reporting back raw vote results on a county-by-county basis from the time polls open to close and long after that. The data is supplemented with state and county vote computer feeds, when available.
How does NBC ensure accuracy?
Analysts inspect results and look for irregularities or inconsistencies with past voting behavior. If data seems irregular, a rigorous quality control process is triggered to determine whether results are correct.
How does NBC project races?
Projecting a winner means that the Decision Desk has determined that the trailing candidates cannot catch the leader and that the leading candidate will win the race. This determination is made through a comprehensive analysis, and the Decision Desk only projects a race when it is certain of the outcome. Competitive races are called based on analyses of precinct- and county-level vote returns. The analyses also examine differences between early and Election Day votes. A careful analysis of how much of the vote has not yet been counted is often a crucial part of the process.
NBC News will not project a winner until after the last scheduled statewide poll-closing time in that race.
