The U.S. Census count recently ended after the U.S. Supreme Court agreed with the Trump administration’s plan to end the 2020 count early.
While CSEA and many other groups worked hard to support census response, particularly after an undercount in New York in 2010, the count was made more difficult because of the COVID-pandemic.
Earlier this year, the deadline for the census, originally scheduled for the end of July, was pushed back to October 31 because of the pandemic. The administration then changed course, announcing September 30 as the end date. Federal courts restored the October 31 deadline until the recent Supreme Court ruling, which ended the count as of October 16.
There are real concerns over what this shortened time frame will mean for New York. The count, conducted every 10 years, determines how roughly $1.5 trillion is directed, in addition to Congressional representation.
While New York will likely lose at least one Congressional seat in the next round of redistricting, a poor count could result in the state losing two seats.
As press time, New York was tied for 31st in response rate.
