A True Vote Probability Analysis of a Kerry win in
Ohio and Florida
Richard Charnin
Jan. 8, 2012
A table of win probabilities has been added to the True Vote Model (TVM).
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AjAk1JUWDMyRdGN3WEZNTUFaR0tfOHVXTzA1VGRsdHc#gid=0
The TVM is a post-election model which calculates vote shares and margins based on various estimates of returning voters from the prior election. The TVM uses intermediate vote shares of returning and new voters (based on the national exit poll) to determine total vote shares.
There are four calculation methods which estimate voter turnout from the prior election: 1- recorded vote, 2-votes cast (recorded+uncounted), 3- Exit Poll, 4- True Vote.
New voters are simply the difference between returning voters and total votes cast in the current election.
Because of the inherent uncertainty in these estimates, the TVM calculates vote shares over a range of the estimated shares of returning and new voters (scenarios). Two 5x5 tables of resulting vote shares and corresponding vote margins are generated. The most likely base case vote share in the central cell of the table, the worst case share is in the lower left cell, and the best case share is in the upper right cell. This is called a sensitivity analysis of vote share scenarios.
The win probability in a pre-election or exit poll is a function of the 2-party shares and the polling margin of error, calculated by the normal distribution function.
For example, assume a 51-49% vote share split and a 3.0% input margin of error (MoE).
The probability of winning a majority of the vote is given by the Excel formula:
Prob = NORMDIST (.51, .50, .03/1.96, true)
Win probability = 74.3%
Ohio 2004
presidential election
In the base case (most likely) scenario, Kerry wins 59.5% of New voters and 10% of returning Bush 2000 voters.
The probability calculations assume a 3.0% margin of error.
The base case (most likely) scenario in the central cell of the table:
Kerry captures 59.5% of new voters and 10% of returning Bush 2000 voters.
Kerry wins
The best case scenario in the upper right cell:
Kerry captures 63.5% of new voters and 12% of returning Bush 2000 voters.
Kerry has 53.2%, a 427,000 vote margin and 99.5% win probability.
The worst case scenario in the lower left cell:
Kerry captures 55.5% of new voters and 8% of returning Bush 2000 voters.
Kerry has 50.2%, a 90,000 vote margin and 70.6% win probability.
Florida 2004
Bush won the recorded vote 52.1-47.1%, a 381,000 vote margin.
Now let's calculate Kerry's probability of winning over a range of scenarios:
He wins 52.2-60.2% of new voters and 8-12% of returning Bush voters. Assume the same calculation method (returning voters are based on the 2000 exit poll).
Base Case: Kerry has 52.3%, 427,000 margin and 97.2% win probability.
Best Case: Kerry has 54.0%, 678,000 margin and 99.99% win probability.
Worst Case: Kerry has 50.6%, 176,000 margin and 78.5% win probability.
National 2004
Bush won the recorded vote: 50.7-48.3%, a 3.0 million vote margin.
Kerry's vote share scenarios:
Share of new voters: 53-61%. Share of returning Bush voters: 8-12%.
Base Case: Kerry has 52.9%, 9.0 million margin and 99.1% win probability.
Best Case: Kerry has 54.4%, 12.8 million margin and 100.0% win probability.
Worst Case: Kerry has 51.4%, 5.3 million margin and 91.9% win probability.
Base Case
2000 Voted Mix Kerry Bush Other Turnout Mix Kerry Bush Other
New/DNV 995 18.1% 59.5% 38.5% 2.0% - 18.1% 62.2% 35.8% 2.0%
Gore (47%) 2,109 38.4% 91.0% 8.0% 1.0% 98% 38.4% 95.1% 3.9% 1.0%
Bush (49.5%) 2,221 40.5% 10.0% 90.0% 0.0% 98% 40.5% 10.4% 89.6% 0.0%
Other (3.6%) 160 2.9% 64.0% 17.0% 19.0% 98% 2.9% 66.9% 14.1% 19.0%
True Vote 100% 51.7% 47.0% 1.3% 100% 54.0% 45.5% 0.5%
Recorded 100% 48.7% 50.8% 0.5%
Kerry Share of New Voters (DNV)
55.5% 57.5% 59.5% 61.5% 63.5%
Share
of Bush Kerry Vote Share
12% 51.8% 52.2% 52.5% 52.9% 53.2%
11% 51.4% 51.7% 52.1% 52.5% 52.8%
10% 51.0% 51.3% 51.7% 52.1% 52.4%
9% 50.6% 50.9% 51.3% 51.7% 52.0%
8% 50.2% 50.5% 50.9% 51.3% 51.6%
Kerry Margin (000)
12% 268 307 347 387 427
11% 223 263 303 343 382
10% 179 219 258 298 338
9% 134 174 214 254 294
8% 90 130 169 209 249
Kerry Win Probability
12% 94.7% 96.8% 98.2% 99.0% 99.5%
11% 91.1% 94.4% 96.6% 98.1% 98.9%
10% 86.0% 90.6% 94.0% 96.4% 97.9%
9% 79.1% 85.3% 90.2% 93.7% 96.2%
8% 70.6% 78.3% 84.7% 89.7% 93.4%