Topline
The populations of at least 14 states were miscounted in the 2020 Census, a report released Thursday by the Census Bureau found, but the discovery will have no impact on the ongoing redistricting process.
An information table for the 2020 Census is seen in Reading, Pennsylvania, on September 25, 2020. … [+]
Key Facts
The populations of six states were “significantly” undercounted, according to the report: Arkansas (-5.04%), Tennessee (-4.78%), Mississippi (-4.11%), Florida (-3.48%), Illinois (-1.97%) and Texas (-1.92%).
Overcounts were found in eight states: Hawaii (+6.79%), Delaware (+5.45%), Rhode Island (+5.05%), Minnesota (+3.84%), New York (+3.44%), Utah (+2.59%), Massachusetts (+2.24%) and Ohio (+1.49%).
The report did not specify whether any particular demographic groups were severely impacted by the miscounting.
The Census Bureau releases a report every decade reviewing the accuracy of census results, using statistical modeling to determine whether errors were likely in the count.
The coronavirus pandemic and “controversy around a proposed citizenship question” former President Donald Trump wanted on the census contributed to “challenges” in the counting process, the report said.
Apart from legislative redistricting, census data is used to determine how federal money is allocated to states and localities.
Surprising Fact
A similar review more than a decade ago of 2010 Census findings determined there were no statistically significant errors in population count for that survey.
What To Watch For
Court fights are ongoing across the country in the redistricting process as proposed maps face challenges for allegedly being drawn for partisan purposes. In New York, for example, the Democratic-controlled legislature has been ordered to redraw boundaries after Republicans argued the proposed new maps were gerrymandered to hurt the GOP politically. In Florida, a judge has blocked the state from implementing a new congressional map over concerns it dilutes the influence of Black voters in the northern part of the state.
Key Background
Concerns were raised throughout Census surveying about impacts the coronavirus pandemic might have on getting an accurate count, after the pandemic causing significant delays in the counting process. Critics also blasted former President Donald Trump’s role in the process, claiming his administration attempted to rush counting and may have even tried to directly interfere with getting an accurate count. An email released in January revealed Census Bureau officials were worried about the “unusually” high interest level Trump’s political appointees at the Commerce Department were taking in the census, with Census Bureau Deputy Director Ron Jarmin noting the administration’s “engagement in technical matters” was “unprecedented relative to the previous censuses.” The Trump Administration notably sought to exclude undocumented immigrants from the census count, but the effort was unsuccessful.
Tangent
A March report from the Census Bureau found Black, Latino and Native American populations were undercounted in the 2020 Census, while Asian-Americans and non-Latino whites were overcounted.
Further Reading
The 2020 census had big undercounts of Black people, Latinos and Native Americans (NPR)
2020 Census Could Have ‘Serious Errors,’ Document Finds, Which Could Have Lasting Impacts (Forbes)
NY Court Of Appeals Throws Out ‘Partisan’ Congressional Maps Drawn By Democrats (Forbes)
Florida Judge Blocks DeSantis Redistricting Map That Would Affect Black Voters (Forbes)
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/nicholasreimann/2022/05/19/14-states-significantly-miscounted-in-2020-census-but-that-wont-change-redistricting-plans/