Note: This will be the first Excel project of two
Since the US presidential election is right around the corner, we will do a more political project for our first excel project. You will format and record the total number of electoral votes for each party, and compare each state's current Electoral Vote total with its total from 20 years ago in the 1980s. Note that though much of this project can be done in advance, some of it cannot be completed until November 3rd.
To save some time, copy the file \\webhost\jsantore\cs105\Excel-LabPart1.xls (also available from the website by going to the class website and then typing in the file name after the website address as discussed in class) This file is optional and only contains a list of the states and their current electoral votes. If you can't get this file, you can always generate this data by hand.
Save your file with a file name that is your last name followed by Excel2.xls (so for me: Santore-Excel2.xls)
Add the following columns of data to your spreadsheet:
if Not using the file above, a column for the states and the district of columbia, and a column for the total electoral votes of each.
a column representing the number of electoral votes each state (and of course the District of Columbia) had during the 1980s (you can find this list is several places, but if you want a pointer, you can find one at the Jackson County (MO) election board webpage http://jceb.co.jackson.mo.us/fun_stuff/electoral_college.htm. The data that you want is in a table about halfway down the page.
A column showing the percentage change in electors since the the 1980s. The values in this column must be an excel formula rather than hand coded values. If the number of electoral votes for a state has increased, the value in this column should be on a green cell background. If the value has decreased, it should be on an orange or purple (your choice) cell background. If the percentage change is zero, then leave the cell background white. Use conditional formatting for this color change. And use the same set of conditions for all cells.
A column for the number of electoral votes that the state awarded the candidate from the democratic party
A column for the number of electoral votes that the state awarded the candidate from the republican party
Add the following additional rows:
a row to sum the total electoral votes received by each party (the last two columns mentioned above must have a summation row) This summation must be done using an Excel formula
A row with a title for the entire sheet. The title should be centered and in a single cell with a colored background and a “drop shadow”
Additional Directions
Use a conditional formatting on the State names column to color states red those states that gave their electoral votes to the Republican candidate, and blue those states that gave their electoral votes to the Democratic candidate. Special: Maine and Nebraska by law may split their vote, sending two votes to the overall state winner, while the remaining are assigned based on who wins in each congressional district. In the unlikely case that the electoral vote is split in these states, assign light blue if the democratic candidate gets more of the votes and pink/light red if the republican candidate gets more votes.
Format all other columns and column headings to look nice. This is deliberately vague, but most of you are management students, you have to worry about presentation, so make this document look like something you could show on the local news and not be embarrassed by it.
Finally add a 3-D pie chart that shows the electoral votes of each state as a percentage of the whole voting power of the states.
This lab is due by 5pm Friday November 5th.