Depends on the purpose. If you want to show the nuances, then, yes, it is effective. But, if I didn't know the results of the election, I don't think I could even take a guess looking at that map.
I don't believe there is a Grand Unified Theory of Election Maps. Use different maps to convey different facets of information.
If you want the map to show you the results of the election, then a county by county map is not useful anyway. Instead you'd want to know who won each state, and how many electoral votes each state counts for (or just color the whole country by the winner).
Looking at the typical blue/red state map would not allow you to know the outcome either. You might feel that way, but only because it’s always accompanied with a direct display of the outcome above or below it.
This is a better representation of the map part, not an attempt at conveying aggregated result.
Comments
Depends on the purpose. If you want to show the nuances, then, yes, it is effective. But, if I didn't know the results of the election, I don't think I could even take a guess looking at that map.
I don't believe there is a Grand Unified Theory of Election Maps. Use different maps to convey different facets of information.
If you want the map to show you the results of the election, then a county by county map is not useful anyway. Instead you'd want to know who won each state, and how many electoral votes each state counts for (or just color the whole country by the winner).
Like he said, "most accurate and easiest to understand". ;-)
Looking at the typical blue/red state map would not allow you to know the outcome either. You might feel that way, but only because it’s always accompanied with a direct display of the outcome above or below it.
This is a better representation of the map part, not an attempt at conveying aggregated result.