Fox News aired graphics featuring inaccurate poll-closing times
SUMMARY: Fox News repeatedly aired graphics that purported to show "POLL CLOSINGS" in Eastern Standard Time for each state. But in states that cross time zones, the times listed in the graphics reflected the western-most time zone in the state, which could result in people watching Fox News in the eastern portion of some states being left with the impression that local polls would be open for an hour after they actually close.
During their Election Day coverage, Fox News repeatedly aired graphics that purported to show "POLL CLOSINGS" in Eastern Standard Time for each state. But in states that cross time zones, the times listed in the graphics reflected the western-most time zone in the state, in which polls close an hour later than the rest of the state. Thus, people watching Fox News in the eastern portion of some states could be left with the impression that local polls would be open for an hour after they actually close.
For example, according to the Florida Department of State's "2008 Voter Registration and Voting Guide," "Polls will be open on election day from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m. local time." Since Florida is split between the Eastern and Central time zones, polls close at 7 p.m. ET in some parts of the state and at 8 p.m. ET in other parts, not at 8 p.m. ET throughout the state, as the Fox News graphic indicated. Likewise, according to the Michigan Secretary of State, polls in the state are "open from 7:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.," but since the state is in two time zones, the majority of the state polls close at 8 p.m. ET, and the remainder close at 9 p.m. ET. But the Fox News graphic suggested that all polls in the state close at 9 p.m. ET.
Other states in multiple time zones include Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, and Texas.
According to Fox News' graphic, "POLL CLOSINGS" at 8 p.m. ET include Florida:
According to Fox News' graphic, "POLL CLOSINGS" at 9 p.m. ET include Michigan:
As Media Matters for America noted, earlier in the day, MSNBC Live continually aired a similar graphic that also could have misled potential voters -- even after NBC News political director Chuck Todd said of the graphic:
TODD: And a little guide to viewers. You see this ticker below talking about poll closing time. The time that you see is the last time that polls close in a state. There are a lot of states with split time zone, like Florida. We'll say that the polls close at 8 o'clock. Well, they close at 7 local. Eight o'clock in the Central time with Pensacola, but 7 p.m. Eastern in most of the rest of the state. That's the same with Indiana. It's 6 to 6, local. We encourage you, if you're confused about when your polls close, to go and check with your local polling officials, check your local polling places. They will obviously have the exact information you need. We want to tell our viewers when we'll start seeing vote counts, and that's why we have those final times up on our screen. So, if you need to know when your polls close, check with your local election official.
MSNBC has since stopped airing the inaccurate graphics.
Nate Silver is my hero.
HI-HO SILVER - AWAY!!!!!!!
:-)
Fox News, we report, you get stiffed at the door.
So let's see if I've got it straight - Fox news, which caters to reichwing nuts, is providing innacurate polling information to reichwingnuts leaving them with the impression that they have an extra hour to vote. Because of this misinformation, reichwing nuts who watch fox news may show up after the polls are closed and not get to vote.
Hmmmm, while part of me knows this is wrong, I'm still having a hard time thinking this is a bad thing.
That's why this is not liberal misinformation at all, nor is it conservative either. For Fox to be inaccurate proves that, as their viewers are mostly rightwingers. So is MMFA saying they are trying to suppress Republican vote?
Sloppy, lazy reporting, that's all it is.
Forget about motive. It's misinformation. It's also misinfomation that could lessen voter turnout. Less voter turnout favors conservatives..
MMFA is approaching it from the mindset that the words of Paul Weyrich are regarded as gospel in Republican circles to this day and are key to election victory.
At the same time, I just heard a right-winger say on the radio in a news report that traditionally, bigger turnout favors Republicans.
I'm so confused.
Just remember this, tommy! ;)
Tommy is a stopped calendar. He's right once a month.
Maybe their intention was to point out that regardless of who's vote is suppressed, our democracy suffers.
correctomundo!
leiberman says the country is in danger if the democrats get 60 seats in the senate. how long before he jumps to the republicans?
It looks as though the stupidest district in Minnesota is going to send Michele Bachmann back to the US House.
The Franken - Coleman race is incredible. With over a million votes counted they're bouncing back and forth within 500 votes of each other.
But Bill, I heard that Al Franken controls Texas Republican CEO's who influence elections! I have faith in MN after tonight. Good luck.
As of this moment, Franken trails by just over 700 votes out of almost 3 million cast. This margin will trigger an automatic hand recount so we won't know the end result of this election for almost a month.
I hope we can avoid a media circus.
Jesus! The long faces on Fixed last night was enough to make one feel sorry for those guys...........NOT! I'd give anything to waltz right in to Fixed News studios and do a touchdown dance right in front of Hannity, Rove, O'Reilly, Hume, Cavuto, that complete idiot Fred Barnes, that self righteous b!tch Megyn Kelly, that gollum looking troll Carl Cameron, and all the other GOP cheerleaders who inhabit that den of inequity called Fox News Studios. I got three words for all of em'.....In Your Face!
I switched over to Faux any time I wanted to laugh/gloat. It was wonderful.