Census Data Sets the Timer on Redistricting Reform

Last Updated: April 21, 2021

On April 26, the Census Bureau released its first set of decennial census data, which will determine how the 435 Congressional seats in the House of Representatives are apportioned by state. Because each state’s electoral votes equal the size of its House and Senate delegation, apportionment also affects presidential elections. In addition, this data determines the distribution of federal funds for some programs.

The Census Bureau would normally have released these state-by-state population numbers on December 31 of last year, but were delayed because of the COVID-19 pandemic. By September 30, 2021, the Census Bureau will provide the states with block-by-block population counts, which will enable the commencement of the redistricting process. That leaves Congress a short timeframe to pass redistricting reform before states draw their new maps.