The map below was created by students and faculty at the University of Vermont using data from the office of the Secretary of State. UVM's Community News Service received permission to access the aggregate data on mail-in ballots for each county, which they updated with each update from election officials. The map was made available on the Community News Service web site to any Vermont news outlets that wished to republish it.
This is just one example of the creative reporting tools available to students who are covering elections and democracy in their communities.