FOX NEWS VOTER ANALYSIS FULL METHODOLOGY STATEMENT
The Fox News Voter Analysis (FNVA), conducted in partnership with the Associated Press, provides a comprehensive look at voting behavior, opinions and preferences as America votes. It is based on surveys conducted in all 50 states by NORC at the University of Chicago, as well as actual voting results by county collected by The AP.
The FNVA survey encompasses interviews with an estimated 140,000 registered voters and is conducted Oct. 26 to Nov. 3, and continues through the end of voting on Election Day. Both voters and nonvoters are interviewed to provide a full picture of the election, including why some Americans voted while others stayed at home.
FNVA combines respondent interviews from three data sources: (1) a random sample of registered voters drawn from state voter files; (2) a sample of self-identified registered voters conducted using NORC’s probability-based panel, which is designed to be representative of the U.S. population; and (3) a sample of self-identified registered voters selected from nonprobability online panels. Interviews are conducted in English and Spanish. Respondents receive a small monetary incentive for completing the survey. Participants selected from state voter files are contacted by phone and mail, and can take the survey by phone or online.
National Survey
The FNVA survey of voters and nonvoters nationwide is compiled from results of the 50 statebased surveys and a nationally representative survey of about 3,000 registered voters conducted on NORC’s probability-based panel. It includes approximately 30,000 probability interviews completed online and via telephone, and 110,000 nonprobability interviews completed online.
State Surveys
In 20 states, FNVA is based on roughly 1,000 probability-based interviews conducted online and via phone, and roughly 3,000 nonprobability interviews conducted online. In 20 additional states, FNVA is based on 500 probability-based interviews conducted online and by phone, and roughly 2,000 nonprobability interviews conducted online. In the remaining 10 states, FNVA is based on about 1,000 nonprobability interviews conducted online. Consistent with Fox News standards that recommend against relying on nonprobability samples, the FNVA only reports nonprobability samples after they have been calibrated with the actual results in a state.
Sampling Details
Probability-based Registered Voter Sample
In each of the 40 states in which the FNVA includes a probability-based sample, NORC obtained a sample of registered voters from Catalist LLC’s registered voter database. This database includes demographic information, as well as addresses and phone numbers for registered voters, allowing potential respondents to be contacted via mail and telephone. The sample was stratified by state, partisanship, age and race. In addition, NORC attempted to match sampled records to a registered voter database maintained by L2, which provided additional phone numbers and demographic information.
Prior to dialing, all probability sample records are mailed a postcard inviting them to complete the survey either online using a unique PIN or via telephone by calling a toll-free number. Postcards are addressed by name to the sampled registered voter if that individual is under age 35; postcards are addressed to “registered voter” in all other cases. Telephone interviews are conducted with the adult that answers the phone following confirmation of registered voter status in the state.
NORC’s probability panel
During the initial recruitment phase of the panel, randomly selected U.S. households were sampled with a known, non-zero probability of selection from the NORC National Sample Frame and then contacted by U.S. mail, email, telephone and field interviewers (face-to-face). The panel provides sample coverage of approximately 97 percent of the U.S. household population. Those excluded from the sample include people with P.O. Box-only addresses, some addresses not listed in the USPS Delivery Sequence File and some newly constructed dwellings. Registered voter status was confirmed in field for all sample panelists.
Nonprobability Sample
Nonprobability participants are provided via an online panel. In addition, some registered voters will be selected from the voter file, matched to email addresses by V12, and recruited via an email invitation to the survey. Digital fingerprint software and panel-level ID validation is used to prevent respondents from completing the survey multiple times.
Weighting Details
The FNVA employs a four-step weighting approach that combines the probability sample with the nonprobability sample, and refines estimates at a sub-regional level within each state. The 50 state surveys and the probability panel survey are weighted separately and then combined into a survey representative of voters in all 50 states.
State Surveys
First, weights are constructed separately for the probability sample (when available) and the nonprobability sample for each state survey. These weights are adjusted to population totals to correct for demographic imbalances of the responding sample compared to the population of registered voters in each state. The adjustment targets are derived from a combination of data from the U.S. Census Bureau’s November 2018 Current Population Survey and Registration Supplement, Catalist’s voter file and the Census Bureau’s 2018 American Community Survey. Prior to adjusting to population totals, the probability-based registered voter list sample weights are adjusted for differential non-response related to factors such as availability of phone numbers, age, race and partisanship.
Second, all sample respondents receive a calibration weight. The calibration weight is designed to ensure the nonprobability sample is similar to the probability sample in regard to variables that are predictive of vote choice, such as partisanship or direction of the country, that cannot be fully captured through the prior demographic adjustments. The calibration benchmarks are based on regional level estimates from regression models that incorporate all probability and nonprobability cases nationwide.
Third, all respondents in each state are weighted to improve estimates for sub-state geographic regions. This weight combines the weighted probability sample (if available) and the calibrated nonprobability sample, and then uses a small area model to improve the estimate within subregions of a state.
Fourth, the survey results are weighted to the actual vote count following the completion of the election. This weighting is done in 10-30 sub-regions within each state.
National Survey
The national survey is weighted to combine the 50 state surveys with the nationwide probability panel survey. Each of the state surveys is weighted as described. The probability panel survey receives a nonresponse-adjusted weight that is then adjusted to national totals for registered voters derived from the U.S. Census Bureau’s November 2018 Current Population Survey Voting and Registration Supplement, the Catalist voter file and the Census Bureau’s 2018 American Community Survey. The state surveys are further adjusted to represent their appropriate proportion of the registered voter population for the country and combined with the national probability panel survey. After all votes are counted, the national data file is adjusted to match the national popular vote for president.
