Census Bureau Sets Key Parameters to Protect Privacy in 2020 Census Results

By EditorJun 09, 2021

The Census Bureau announced today the final framework for implementing its privacy algorithm (aka "disclosure avoidance or "differential privacy") on the 2020 census data. The specific settings (indicated below) determine the balance between accuracy and privacy in the data. In short, it determines how much statistical "noise" will be injected into the data. This decision comes after several notable criticisms of demonstration data that had been treated with the algorithm. Quick Info for Statistical Professionals: The latest set of demonstration data was set at an epsilon of 12.2. Today, the bureau's Data Stewardship Executive Policy Committee chose an epsilon of…

Census Data and Geography, DATA and TECHNOLOGY, LATEST, NEWS, Redistricting, Redistricting Functionscensus, census 2020, dataindepth, differential privacy, national, redistricting data, U.S. Census Bureau

Monthly Redistricting Update: May

By EditorJun 03, 2021

2020 CENSUS Two Studies Find Major Issues with Soon to Be Released Census Data Due to Differential Privacy Election Data Services Report Gives Context to 2020 Apportionment Results IN THE STATES Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont signs bill ending prison gerrymandering Wisconsin Supreme Court Rejects Bid to Fast-Track Future Redistricting Litigation 2020 California Citizens Redistricting Commission Hires Anthony Pane as Chief Counsel Michigan Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission Launches Online Public Comment Portal

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Two Studies Find Major Issues with Soon to Be Released Census Data Due to Differential Privacy

By EditorMay 30, 2021

A team of researchers at Harvard University and a separate team at the University of Minnesota have published reports offering a troubling assessment of the U.S. Census Bureau's use of differential privacy or disclosure avoidance system (DAS) to block would-be hackers from identifying the personal information of everyone who participated in the 2020 census. In short, both conclude that the soon-to-be-released census data will not be accurate enough for redistricting. Read both studies here: Harvard Study. University of Minnesota Study. These reports and others are responses solicited by the Census Bureau in its effort to promote transparency and obtain feedback…

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Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont signs bill ending prison gerrymandering

By EditorMay 29, 2021

Press release from the Prison Policy Initiative. Connecticut becomes the 11th state to end the practice of prison gerrymandering. May 27, 2021 For Immediate Release – Yesterday, Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont signed a bill ensuring that people in state prisons will hereafter be counted as residents of their home addresses when new legislative districts are drawn. The new law makes Connecticut the eleventh state to end the practice known as prison gerrymandering, after Illinois passed its own bill earlier this year. The national movement against prison gerrymandering began in 2001 when the founders of the Prison Policy Initiative discovered that the sheer size of…

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Wisconsin Supreme Court Rejects Bid to Fast-Track Future Redistricting Litigation

By EditorMay 17, 2021

The Wisconsin state supreme court declined on Friday, to include all redistricting cases in its original jurisdiction. The decision was in response to a petition by the Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty to fast-track redistricting litigation in the state by having that court conduct a full trial and devise remedies at the outset as opposed to just conducting an appellate review of lower court decisions. Read the court decision here. The court declined any blanket rule for redistricting challenges and instead indicated that it would decide on whether original jurisdiction applies on a case-by-case basis. "as drafted, the procedures…

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2020 California Citizens Redistricting Commission Hires Anthony Pane as Chief Counsel

By EditorMay 07, 2021

SACRAMENTO, CA—This week, the 2020 California Citizens Redistricting Commission (Commission) announced the hiring of Anthony Pane as Chief Counsel. Mr. Pane joins the Commission from the California Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA), where he managed the day-to-day activities of attorneys and advised Board/Bureaus on Bagley-Keene requirements among other things. PRESS RELEASE : May 7, 2021 2020 California Citizens Redistricting CommissionHires Anthony Pane as Chief Counsel “The Commission is fortunate to have Mr. Pane join our team,” stated Chair Alicia Fernández. “He brings a wealth of experience working for state agencies and advising on Bagley-Keene Open Meeting Act adherence, the state…

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U.S. Census Bureau VIDEO: Differential Privacy 101

By EditorMay 07, 2021

Watch this video for a basic eplanation of the differential privacy technique used to protect the privacy of individuals whose data resides in large databases. The video demonstrates how database records can be reconstructed to gain more detailed information on an individual beyond what exists in the one database. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hsh1R1WA0kU

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Michigan Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission Launches Online Public Comment Portal

By EditorMay 07, 2021

The portal allows users to submit written testimony, identified communities of interest, and plan maps for review by the commission. The portal was developed in collaboration with the MGGG Redistricting Lab at Tufts University. You can view the portal introductory video below. Go to the MICRC Portal https://youtu.be/FWfGrEQehUk

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Federal Court Dismisses Alabama Challenge to Including Illegal Immigrants in Apportionment Results

By EditorMay 04, 2021

On Monday, a federal district court in Alabama dismissed a lawsuit challenging the U.S. Census Bureau's practice of including the "whole number of persons in each state" in the census counts for apportionment. The state of Alabama had filed the challenge to block the inclusion of unlawful immigrants in the apportionment count, but the recently announced apportionment results played a role in the case dismissal. According to Alabama, the Final "2020 Census Residence Criteria and Residence Situations Rule" promulgated by the U.S. Census Bureau on February 8, 2018, provides that foreign nationals living in the U.S. will be counted in…

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Election Data Services Report Gives Context to 2020 Apportionment Results

By EditorMay 04, 2021

Every 10 years the U.S. Census apportionment numbers are presented and every 10 years Election Data Services (EDS) releases a comprehensive analysis of the apportionment numbers giving us a contextual view of what they mean and how the numbers affect electoral politics in the U.S. This year's EDS analysis is particularly intriguing. Here are some of the highlights. Read the full report here. States that Just Missed an Additional Seat and States that Just Barely Held on to an Existing Seat: Under the Equal Proportions method of apportionment (which has been in use since the early 20th century), each state…

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