Generally speaking, a "cache" is a place to store data. Your Web browser probably maintains such a cache on your local hard disk. It stores Web pages in it. This is both good and bad.

Whenever you visit a Web page, your browser downloads it and stores it in your cache. If you move to another Web page and then revisit the original page, your browser may check the cache to see if the requested page is already there. If it is, the browser may display the copy from the cache rather than downloading it again from the server. This is good because it can speed up your viewing quite a bit.

However, the election-returns pages on this site change approximately every ten minutes during election night. If your browser shows you old pages from your cache instead of the most current ones from the server, this is bad because you won't see the most recent information.

It's possible for your browser to ask our server if there is a newer version of the page. If there is, your browser will download it; otherwise, your browser will show you the copy you already have in your cache. This is good because it ensures you're seeing the latest available results.

Our server has been configured to communicate to your browser the date and time of the latest change to any page it serves. But it is up to your browser to make use of this information. This will only happen if you properly set your browser's caching options. To find out how to do that, please read the next column.

Your browser must be set to "always check for a newer copy" or "compare to the document on the network every time". If you already know how to set your browser to do this, you need not read this column.

We can only give you general instructions here for setting your cache because the process varies from browser to browser and from version to version. We have provided examples below for two of the most popular browsers, Microsoft Internet Explorer and Netscape Navigator. The procedure for your browser will probably be similar to one of the two examples.

If you need further information, please consult the manual or online help that came with your browser software.

Most browsers have a menu item that allows you to set "options" or "preferences". One of these options or preferences effects how your browser uses its cache and communicates with our server. You must set this properly to ensure you're seeing the most current election results.

Examples

Netscape Navigator

1. On the menu bar, select "Edit".
2. Select "Preferences".
3. In the Preferences window, click the little "+" next to the "Advanced" Category.
4. Select "Cache".
5. Under "Document in cache is compared to document on network:", select "Every time".
6. Click the "OK" button to finish and close the "Preferences" window.

Internet Explorer

1. On the menu bar, select "Tools".
2. Select "Internet Options".
3. In the Internet Options window, under the "General" tab, find the "Temporary Internet files" section.
4. In the "Temporary Internet files" section, click on the "Settings" button.
5. Under "Check for newer versions of stored pages:", select "Every visit to the page".
6. Click the "OK" button to close the "Settings" window.
7. Click the "OK" button to finish and close the "Internet Options" window.

Most browsers have a button that allows you to reload the current page. In Netscape Navigator it's called "Reload"; in Microsoft Internet Explorer it's called "Refresh".

If you're only interested in one contest and do not move from page to page, the "Reload/Refresh" button is the only way to get updated returns as they are posted. The pages will not automatically update by themselves.

If you believe you are looking at an old page for which there should be a newer version, try clicking on your "Reload/
Refresh" button. If the page doesn't change, please wait a minute or so and then try it again.

Remember:

• The returns are updated approximately every ten minutes.
• Your clock may differ from ours.

Using the "Reload/Refresh" button too much will not let you see the next update any sooner, and it may clog and significantly slow down your Internet connection.