Announcing the winners of the Elections Mapping Challenge

Mapbox recently concluded its inaugural Election Mapping Challenge, which ran from September to November, inviting participants of all skill levels to create interactive maps or data visualizations on election-related topics. The competition awarded projects in three categories: Best Untold Story, Best Practical Tool, and Best Data Mashup. Sarah Lashinsky won Best Untold Story with her project "Diary of a Georgia Voter," which transformed a voting experience into an interactive map. The Bay Area Community team took home the Best Practical Tool award for their "Ballot Drop Locator," offering information in multiple languages. Ollie Ballinger's "Populated Area Voteshare" map earned the Best Data Mashup title by combining election results with nighttime light data to address visual biases. The competition also recognized second-place winners and honorable mentions, highlighting projects that provided insights into voting habits and representation. The event celebrated the enthusiasm of the participants and emphasized the importance of accessible election-related information, encouraging continued engagement and the use of Mapbox's educational resources for future map creation.