I am convinced the AP aims to control the elections
From the AP website:
"On election night, AP assigns county reporters -- more commonly referred to in the industry as “stringers” or “freelance reporters"—to nearly every county (and city and town in New England). AP Director of Vote Tabulation Don Rehill, who estimates he's been through more than 300 separate election nights with AP, explains the process:
"Different states require different approaches but typically we'll have stringers at every county election office on election night. After the polls close, these stringers usually get a series of cumulative reports from the local officials, which they compile and call into a specific AP Vote Entry Center. A VEC operator, working through a dialogue with the stringer, enters the report in our newly designed vote entry interface, updating precincts reporting, and votes for each candidate/race. When the stringer gets an update—more votes and precincts—they call again and repeat the cycle. At the end of the night, we often ask supplemental questions about votes outstanding. Assuming that the results being entered by operators get past our rigorous system of vote checks and parameters, and are accepted, they are immediately available for transmission to members and customers.” ....
"AP serves the television networks with results on top-of-the-ticket races for Congress, governor and some ballot issues of national interest. Election computers serve every state and the District of Columbia. AP members and subscribers get returns on contests down through the state legislature, as well as state ballot issues."
"Does AP do exit polling?
A: AP is a member of the
National Election Pool, which includes the five U.S. television networks,
ABC, CBS, CNN, Fox and NBC.
Edison Research has conducted exit polls for NEP since 2004. Even before the first polls open at 6 a.m., exit poll interviewers report for duty at randomly selected precincts. They report the results of their interviews to Edison Research, which, some time before the first of the polls close on election night, reports the compiled information to NEP members. Telephone surveys supplement on-site polling in selected states."
Edison Research:
'We are the
exclusive providers of the
National Election Exit Polls to the major US television news networks and the Associated Press. When you watch TV on Election Night and you hear projections of the results or analysis about who voted for whom – it comes from Edison’s Exit Polls. We are also the global leader in providing International exit polling services for elections all over the world, from Taiwan to the Republic of Georgia."
