They use Neilson ratings . They take a small subset of viewers , give them a special box that transmits what they watch and then use those percentages on the entire population of viewersSo if there are 1 million tv ' s in America and 100 people have these special boxes and 30 of the 100 people watch a particular show they assume that 300 , 000 people overall watch that shoe <| sep |> Honestly part of me wonders if Clinton is encouraging and maybe even providing some support to SteinI was thinking the same thing . It would be sour grapes and frankly , kind of pathetic to many if Clinton pushed this herself . Another related aspect of this is that it came from someone who has no chance of a recount affecting her own outcome , and more importantly it ' s supported and funded by citizens . Had Clinton just dropped 24 million to cover everything , which she surely could , it wouldn ' t have that grassroots feeling and fail to show enthusiasm on the part of the people to support such a thing . I think this has been done well , and is very inclusive .