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RankVariableR² (%)Pearson rp-valueDescription
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1state_FE_composite24.7632060.49760Composite R² of a regression of GOPswing_pp on state indicator dummies. Represents the combined explanatory power of all state-level fixed effects - candidate quality, ballot access rules, state media environment, and any other state-specific factor - treated as a single predictor for ranking purposes.
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2pct_NH_White22.661267-0.4760Share of county population identifying as Non-Hispanic White alone (2020 Decennial Census P9)
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32000_GOPMargin19.886136-0.44590County-level Republican margin (GOP% minus Dem%) in the 2000 presidential election. Source: MIT Election Data and Science Lab county presidential returns.
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4pct_anc_OtherGroups18.5309540.43050Share of ancestry responses recorded as "Other groups" heavily concentrated in Scots-Irish Appalachian communities where residents identify as "American" (ACS 5-year 2020, B04004)
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52004_GOPMargin16.971248-0.4120County-level Republican margin in the 2004 presidential election. Source: MIT Election Data and Science Lab.
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62012_GOPMargin16.941824-0.41160County-level Republican margin in the 2012 presidential election. Source: MIT Election Data and Science Lab.
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7pct_less9thGrade16.2947840.40370Percent of population 25+ with less than a 9th grade education (ACS 5-year 2020, S1501)
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8pct_Hispanic15.5141170.39390Share of county population identifying as Hispanic or Latino of any race (2020 Decennial Census P9)
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92008_GOPMargin14.212795-0.3770County-level Republican margin in the 2008 presidential election. Source: MIT Election Data and Science Lab.
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102016_GOPMargin13.852995-0.37220County-level Republican margin in the 2016 presidential election. Source: MIT Election Data and Science Lab.
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11pct_poverty12.0817150.34760Percent of population below the federal poverty line (ACS 5-year 2020, S1701)
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12avg_delinq_rate11.0932650.33310Average 90-day delinquency rate among county residents in 2020, pooled across all income levels and racial groups. Higher values indicate higher rates of debt delinquency. Source: Opportunity Insights / Experian credit bureau data (shrunk county-level estimates, par_pctile=-9 pooled row).
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13avg_credit_score10.783305-0.32840Average Vantage credit score among county residents in 2020, pooled across all income levels and racial groups. Source: Opportunity Insights / Experian credit bureau data (shrunk estimates, par_pctile=-9 pooled row).
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14pct_single_parent7.8239450.27970Percent of households that are single-parent households. Source: CDC PLACES / ACS 2017-2021 5-year estimates (SDOH measure SNGPNT).
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15pct_no_vehicle7.6827880.27720Percent of occupied housing units with no vehicle available (ACS 5-year 2020, DP04)
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16pct_unemployed7.3767830.27160Percent of civilian labor force aged 16+ who are unemployed. Source: CDC PLACES / ACS 2017-2021 5-year estimates (SDOH measure UNEMP).
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17pct_broadband6.997338-0.26450Percent of households with a broadband internet subscription (ACS 5-year 2020, S2802)
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18pct_NH_Black5.387520.23210Share of county population identifying as Non-Hispanic Black or African American alone (2020 Decennial Census P9)
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19pct_housing_cost_burdened5.0667780.22510Percent of households spending more than 30% of income on housing costs. Source: CDC PLACES / ACS 2017-2021 5-year estimates (SDOH measure HCOST).
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20avg_mortgage_balance5.008231-0.22380Average mortgage balance in dollars among county residents in 2020, pooled across all income levels and racial groups. Source: Opportunity Insights / Experian credit bureau data (shrunk estimates, par_pctile=-9 pooled row).
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21rel_blackProt_per1k4.9653070.22280Black Protestant adherents per 1,000 population (ARDA 2020 Religious Congregations and Membership Study)
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22pct_occ_mgmt4.958484-0.22270Percent of employed civilians in management, business, science, and arts occupations (ACS 5-year 2020, S2401)
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23pct_veteran4.894422-0.22120Percent of civilian population 18+ who are veterans (ACS 5-year 2020, S2101)
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24pct_NH_MultiRacial4.445855-0.21090Share of county population identifying as Non-Hispanic two or more races (2020 Decennial Census P9)
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25pct_occ_service4.3332470.20820Percent of employed civilians in service occupations (ACS 5-year 2020, S2401)
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26pct_commute_WFH4.276756-0.20680Percent of workers 16+ who work from home (ACS 5-year 2020, S0802)
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27pct_no_internet4.1937080.20480Percent of households without any internet subscription (ACS 5-year 2020, S2802)
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28rel_catholic_per1k4.064410.20160Catholic adherents per 1,000 population (ARDA 2020)
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29pct_owner_occupied3.948375-0.19870Percent of occupied housing units that are owner-occupied (ACS 5-year 2020, DP04)
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30pct_mobile_home3.9475580.19870Percent of housing units that are mobile homes (ACS 5-year 2020, DP04)
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31covid_deaths3.4868430.18670Total confirmed COVID-19 deaths in the county from January 2020 through September 2023. Values of 1–9 were suppressed by CDC for small-count confidentiality and set to 0. Counties with no data also set to 0. Source: CDC National Center for Health Statistics provisional COVID-19 deaths by county.
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32median_age3.350288-0.1830Median age of county population in years (ACS 5-year 2020, DP05)
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33pct_commute_transit3.2422620.18010Percent of workers 16+ who use public transit to commute (ACS 5-year 2020, S0802)
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34median_hh_income3.14612-0.17740Median household income in 2020 inflation-adjusted dollars (ACS 5-year 2020, B19013). Jeff Davis County TX imputed to national median $59,286 due to Census suppression.
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35avg_cc_balance3.05085-0.17470Average credit card balance in dollars among county residents in 2020, pooled across all income levels and racial groups. Source: Opportunity Insights / Experian credit bureau data (shrunk estimates, par_pctile=-9 pooled row).
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36pct_bachelors_plus3.042317-0.17440Percent of population 25+ with a Bachelor's degree or higher (ACS 5-year 2020, S1501)
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37pct_over652.510035-0.15840Percent of county population aged 65 and over (ACS 5-year 2020, DP05)
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38rel_mainlineProt_per1k2.263271-0.15040Mainline Protestant adherents per 1,000 population UMC, ELCA, PCUSA, Episcopal, etc. (ARDA 2020)
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39avg_student_balance2.2515870.15010Average student loan balance in dollars among county residents in 2020, pooled across all income levels and racial groups. Source: Opportunity Insights / Experian credit bureau data (shrunk estimates, par_pctile=-9 pooled row).
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40pct_anc_Welsh2.156101-0.14680Share of ancestry responses recorded as Welsh (ACS 5-year 2020, B04004)
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41pct_no_telephone2.0760610.14410Percent of occupied housing units with no telephone service (ACS 5-year 2020, DP04)
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42pop_density_per_sqmi1.9951110.14120County population per square mile of land area 2020 Census population divided by land area from Census Gazetteer
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43pct_NH_Asian1.990350.14110Share of county population identifying as Non-Hispanic Asian alone (2020 Decennial Census P9)
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44pct_anc_ScotchIrish1.941561-0.13930Share of ancestry responses recorded as Scotch-Irish (ACS 5-year 2020, B04004)
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45rel_jewish_per1k1.8809270.13710Jewish adherents per 1,000 population combined Conservative, Reform, Orthodox, and Independent (ARDA 2020)
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46pct_anc_Guyanese1.6937360.13010Share of ancestry responses recorded as Guyanese concentrated in New York metro area (ACS 5-year 2020, B04004)
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47rel_LDS_per1k1.605528-0.12670Latter-day Saints (Mormon) adherents per 1,000 population (ARDA 2020)
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48pct_moved_diff_state1.391621-0.1180Percent of population 1+ who moved from a different state in the prior year (ACS 5-year 2020, S0701)
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49rel_orthodox_per1k1.3217990.1150Eastern Orthodox adherents per 1,000 population (ARDA 2020)
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50pct_lack_plumbing1.2135310.11020Percent of occupied housing units lacking complete plumbing facilities (ACS 5-year 2020, DP04)
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51rel_muslim_per1k1.2019150.10960Muslim adherents per 1,000 population (ARDA 2020)
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52pct_occ_production1.182180.10870Percent of employed civilians in production, transportation, and material moving occupations (ACS 5-year 2020, S2401)
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53pct_bottledGas1.151826-0.10730Percent of housing units using bottled, tank, or LP gas as primary heating fuel (ACS 5-year 2020, B25040)
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54pct_anc_Czechoslovakian1.044409-0.10220Share of ancestry responses recorded as Czechoslovakian (ACS 5-year 2020, B04004)
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55pct_coalHeat0.888539-0.09430Percent of housing units using coal or coke as primary heating fuel (ACS 5-year 2020, B25040)
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56pct_anc_Polish0.873966-0.09350Share of ancestry responses recorded as Polish (ACS 5-year 2020, B04004)
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57pct_under180.8540840.09240Percent of county population under 18 years old (ACS 5-year 2020, DP05)
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58pct_commute_carpool0.7873210.08870Percent of workers 16+ who carpool to work (ACS 5-year 2020, S0802)
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59pct_anc_Albanian0.7788040.08820Share of ancestry responses recorded as Albanian (ACS 5-year 2020, B04004)
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60pct_wood_heat0.764063-0.08740Percent of housing units using wood as primary heating fuel (ACS 5-year 2020, B25040)
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61pct_anc_Portuguese0.7634510.08740Share of ancestry responses recorded as Portuguese (ACS 5-year 2020, B04004)
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62covid_death_pct0.7136280.08450COVID-19 deaths as a share of all-cause deaths in the county, January 2020–September 2023 a measure of relative COVID mortality burden rather than absolute count. Source: CDC NCHS provisional COVID-19 deaths by county.
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63pct_deg_business0.6946690.08330Percent of BA holders whose field is business (ACS 5-year 2020, S1502)
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64pct_anc_American0.694287-0.08330Share of ancestry responses recorded as "American" concentrated in upland South/Appalachian counties (ACS 5-year 2020, B04004)
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65UrbanicityCode0.674628-0.08210NCHS Urban-Rural Classification scheme, 1–6 scale: 1=Large central metro, 2=Large fringe metro, 3=Medium metro, 4=Small metro, 5=Micropolitan, 6=Non-core rural. Source: National Center for Health Statistics
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66state_scrabble_score0.6680870.08170Sum of standard Scrabble tile values for letters in the state name. Companion to county_scrabble_score another negative control with no causal meaning.
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67pct_anc_Macedonian0.6645570.08150Share of ancestry responses recorded as Macedonian (ACS 5-year 2020, B04004)
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68rel_unitarian_per1k0.634956-0.07970Unitarian Universalist adherents per 1,000 population (ARDA 2020)
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69pct_NH_AIAN0.588570.07670Share of county population identifying as Non-Hispanic American Indian or Alaska Native alone (2020 Decennial Census P9)
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70pct_commute_other0.564307-0.07510Percent of workers 16+ using other means to commute walking, cycling, motorcycle, canoe, etc. (ACS 5-year 2020, S0802)
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71pct_boat_rv_van0.5241820.07240.0001Percent of housing units classified as boat, RV, van, or other non-traditional structure (ACS 5-year 2020, DP04)
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72pct_anc_GermanRussian0.492472-0.07020.0001Share of ancestry responses recorded as German Russian Volga German diaspora, concentrated in ND/KS/NE (ACS 5-year 2020, B04004)
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73pct_no_fuel0.4658110.06830.0002Percent of housing units using no fuel for heating (ACS 5-year 2020, B25040)
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74pct_anc_PAGerman0.463472-0.06810.0002Share of ancestry responses recorded as Pennsylvania German proxy for Old Order Amish and related Plain communities (ACS 5-year 2020, B04004)
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75pct_anc_Afghan0.4458920.06680.0003Share of ancestry responses recorded as Afghan (ACS 5-year 2020, B04004)
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76pct_toddlers_enrolled0.4289140.06550.0004Percent of 3-4 year olds enrolled in school nursery/preschool enrollment rate (ACS 5-year 2020, S1401)
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77rel_total_per1k0.4203210.06480.0004Total religious adherents per 1,000 population across all denominations (ARDA 2020)
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78Is_Unisyn_Any0.418788-0.06470.0004Binary indicator: Unisyn equipment is used for any ballot type (EDay, early, or mail) in this county. Source: Verified Voting Verifier 2024.
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79pct_anc_Israeli0.4181750.06470.0004Share of ancestry responses recorded as Israeli (ACS 5-year 2020, B04004)
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80Is_ESS_Any0.4137470.06430.0004Binary indicator: ESS equipment is used for any ballot type (EDay, early, or mail) in this county. Source: Verified Voting Verifier 2024.
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81pct_fb_from_Africa0.400846-0.06330.0006Share of foreign-born residents born in Africa (ACS 5-year 2020, S0502)
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82pct_deg_STEM0.397205-0.0630.0006Percent of BA holders whose field is science or engineering (ACS 5-year 2020, S1502)
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83pct_fb_from_Asia0.369444-0.06080.0009Share of foreign-born residents born in Asia (ACS 5-year 2020, S0502)
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84pct_AllSixRaces0.326116-0.05710.0018Share of county population identifying as all six OMB racial categories simultaneously the "Dolezal Coefficient" (2020 Decennial Census P9)
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85pct_anc_Canadian0.323944-0.05690.0019Share of ancestry responses recorded as Canadian (ACS 5-year 2020, B04004)
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86pct_35plus_enrolled0.2828230.05320.0037Percent of adults 35+ currently enrolled in school adult education proxy (ACS 5-year 2020, S1401)
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87pct_fb_from_NorthAm0.24658-0.04970.0068Share of foreign-born residents born in Northern America (Canada, etc.) (ACS 5-year 2020, S0502)
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88rel_nonDenom_per1k0.231736-0.04810.0086Non-denominational Protestant adherents per 1,000 population (ARDA 2020)
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89pct_anc_Cypriot0.21830.04670.0108Share of ancestry responses recorded as Cypriot (ACS 5-year 2020, B04004)
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90pct_gradschool_public0.209511-0.04580.0125Percent of graduate school students attending public institutions (ACS 5-year 2020, S1401)
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91pct_anc_Iranian0.1918810.04380.0169Share of ancestry responses recorded as Iranian (ACS 5-year 2020, B04004)
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92pct_NH_OtherRace0.1845830.0430.0191Share of county population identifying as Non-Hispanic Some Other Race alone (2020 Decennial Census P9)
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93pct_fb_from_Europe0.178726-0.04230.0211Share of foreign-born residents born in Europe (ACS 5-year 2020, S0502)
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94rel_buddhist_per1k0.1779290.04220.0214Buddhist adherents per 1,000 population combined Theravada and Mahayana (ARDA 2020)
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95pct_anc_Basque0.175473-0.04190.0223Share of ancestry responses recorded as Basque small Iberian/French ethnic group, concentrated in a handful of western counties (ACS 5-year 2020, B04004)
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96noise0.1461970.03820.0371Random standard normal variable, seeded at 42. Included as a baseline: any predictor with lower R² than this column provides less signal than a coin flip.
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97Is_HandCount_Any0.145791-0.03820.0373Binary indicator: Hand Count equipment is used for any ballot type (EDay, early, or mail) in this county. Source: Verified Voting Verifier 2024.
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98pct_anc_Romanian0.127976-0.03580.0511Share of ancestry responses recorded as Romanian (ACS 5-year 2020, B04004)
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99pct_fb_naturalized0.113148-0.03360.0666Share of the foreign-born population who are naturalized U.S. citizens (ACS 5-year 2020, S0502)