topic Re: Can I map election results with precincts? in State & Local Government Questions

Can I map election results with precincts?

IrvinDe_La_O — Thu, 23 Apr 2015 00:55:42 GMT

Hello everyone,

I want to map a congressional district election result. Can i do it with precincts or can it only be based off zip codes? Also, where can I get the file for precincts to create a layer in the map? This is for an LA County race. I haven't mapped in a while and will appreciate your feedback. Thanks.

Re: Can I map election results with precincts?

SepheFox — Fri, 24 Apr 2015 17:17:17 GMT

Irvin, you can get precinct data here: Registrar Recorder Precincts | Los Angeles County GIS Data Portal

Re: Can I map election results with precincts?

SepheFox — Fri, 24 Apr 2015 17:18:21 GMT

And, I think you can map these results anyway you need to. What layer contains your election result data?

Re: Can I map election results with precincts?

Sol_Wuensch — Fri, 24 Apr 2015 17:37:26 GMT

Maybe this helps some?

Electiondata

2008 Obama/McCain Vote by Precinct | Spatial Social Science Lab

Esri Thematic Atlas

Like Sephe asks above: where are your election result data coming from?

Re: Can I map election results with precincts?

IrvinDe_La_O — Fri, 24 Apr 2015 20:37:18 GMT

Hi Sephe and Sol,

I gather the precinct election results from this website: Precinct Maps by District.

When I download and open the file, it does not have any FIPS column or anything of that sort. However, It does sort the precinct by number. Will that be enough? I appreciate your help. Thanks.

Re: Can I map election results with precincts?

SepheFox — Fri, 24 Apr 2015 22:33:32 GMT

Maybe I'm missing something, but I only see PDF precinct maps at that link, which are unusable in ArcGIS. Maybe try some of the links that Sol or I posted. So, you don't have any election result data at all yet? Your original question gave the impression that you had that data by zip code, but you wanted to analyze it across a different boundary. Sometimes it's hard to communicate by text though!

Re: Can I map election results with precincts?

SepheFox — Fri, 24 Apr 2015 22:35:33 GMT

Perhaps a better questions is: which specific election results are you after?

Re: Can I map election results with precincts?

IrvinDe_La_O — Sat, 25 Apr 2015 02:36:11 GMT

My apologies, I posted the wrong link. I am getting the data from this site https://www.lavote.net/home/voting-elections/election-resources/past-elections/past-election-results#Nov42014 . I then click on "Nov. 4 General Election" --> Statement of Votes Cast Excel Format. That will download a file with the election result by precincts in each election. That is the file I am using for the election results. Is that data usable?

Re: Can I map election results with precincts?

SepheFox — Sat, 25 Apr 2015 03:01:46 GMT

sure! Absolutely. If you go to the link I posted, you can download the precinct shapefile. Bring that and your excel table into arcgis, and then right click the shapefile in the table of contents and select join. Join the excel table to the shapefile using the precinct number. Now you have a visual display of precincts with joined election results. Have a go and get back to us if you run into problems.

Re: Can I map election results with precincts?

IrvinDe_La_O — Sat, 25 Apr 2015 03:29:29 GMT

Great, I've added both the shapefile and the excel file onto arcmap. The county map appears once I added the shapefile. I also added and joined the excel file. This is where I hit a road block...Once I add the and join the excel file with the shapefile, I do not know the next steps to create the visual display of precincts. I do apologize ahead of time for bothering with so many questions, but i truly appreciate your help.

Re: Can I map election results with precincts?

SepheFox — Sat, 25 Apr 2015 03:36:15 GMT

Well, how would YOU like to display the information? As labels with numbers? As a color gradient with a legend key? Different sized symbols to represent smaller or larger numbers? Maybe google some examples if you're not sure. Once you decide, I can help you get it done.

Re: Can I map election results with precincts?

IrvinDe_La_O — Sat, 25 Apr 2015 04:34:49 GMT

Okay, I now figured out how to display the information in various different forms. My next question, is it possible to edit the shape file or the map somehow, to ONLY display the precincts i want?

Re: Can I map election results with precincts?

SepheFox — Sat, 25 Apr 2015 04:46:10 GMT

Great! You're making progress

So, you can add a definition query to your precinct layers to show only those precincts you want.

Right-click the layer in the table of contents and click Properties.
Click the Definition Query tab on the Layer Properties dialog box.
Click the Query Builder button.
Build a query expression. In your case, this will be something like:

"Field name containing attributes that define the precincts you want" in (list, of, attributes, separated, by, commas)

The query builder makes it easy because you can just double click the field you want from the list, and then get the unique attribute list and double click the values that you want to have in the list. The "in" statement makes it a list of values.

This should limit the display of the layer to just those precincts you choose.

Here is the help file on definition queries, if you need more detail:

ArcGIS Help 10.1

Re: Can I map election results with precincts?

Sol_Wuensch — Mon, 27 Apr 2015 14:44:19 GMT

You may want to export the joined shapefile/excel table a separate layer and then work with it like that. Maybe you have already done that though.

Re: Can I map election results with precincts?

IrvinDe_La_O — Mon, 27 Apr 2015 17:01:43 GMT

How do I export it so I can edit on excel? Or what's the best way to edit the joined file?

Also, when I initially start displaying my election results, the precincts are displayed correctly, but the rest of the map disappears; in other words, only the precincts appear in the map but I do not see any boundary lines or the rest of the map. Is that normal? I would like the map to show an outline of the boundaries.

Re: Can I map election results with precincts?

Sol_Wuensch — Mon, 27 Apr 2015 17:05:03 GMT

I think when you have the excel file in your ArcMap it creates a data lock on the excel file for editing. This is why I suggest exporting the data after performing the join. Right click the layer and choose Data -> Export Data: From there you should be able to export the join as a separate shapefile or choose to store it as a feature class in a geodatabase. If you need any further assistance exporting your data just let us know.

Re: Can I map election results with precincts?

Sol_Wuensch — Mon, 27 Apr 2015 17:05:54 GMT

Also, when I initially start displaying my election results, the precincts are displayed correctly, but the rest of the map disappears; in other words, only the precincts appear in the map but I do not see any boundary lines or the rest of the map. Is that normal? I would like the map to show an outline of the boundaries.

I'm not sure I exactly understand what you mean by this, could this have something to do with your definition query?

Re: Can I map election results with precincts?

SepheFox — Mon, 27 Apr 2015 17:25:20 GMT

Is it just that you have your precinct shapefile on top of the other layers,and it has a sold fill that obscures everything beneath? Try changing the fill to none.

Re: Can I map election results with precincts?

IrvinDe_La_O — Mon, 27 Apr 2015 17:35:04 GMT

How do I change the fill?

Re: Can I map election results with precincts?

Sol_Wuensch — Mon, 27 Apr 2015 17:56:36 GMT

Click the symbology below the layer name, and then change the fill color in the symbology selector. OR Right click layer name and goto layer properties, then Symbology Tab, then update the symbology there. Video included below.

(view in My Videos)