On election night, state-based analysts and editors in Washington at AP's Decision Desk also use that vote count to “call races," or declare the winners. HOW AP GATHERS THE VOTESShortly before polls close, roughly 4,000 stringers — temporary freelancers — arrive at county election offices. As officials begin to release results, these stringers phone in the raw vote totals to AP colleagues around the country. These include asking whether there are problems in the stringer's county and challenging the details if the results seem suspect. PRECINCT REPORTING CAN BE TRICKY BUSINESSWhen tabulating results, AP publishes the percentage of precincts reporting alongside the vote count.