Monthly Redistricting Update: April

Monthly Redistricting Update: April

By EditorMay 03, 2021
Redistricting News for April includes blockbuster census news, important litigation developments, and news from the California and Maryland redistricting commissions. Census Activity The big news in April was of course the U.S. Census Bureau's long-awaited apportionment results. After a 4 month delay, the Bureau announced the results in a press conference on Monday, April 26 (see video below). The results were full of surprises; notably New York's loss of an additional seat by just 89 people. Check out the Census Data & Technology page for more details on that. Below are links to the data and press releases from the…
Monthly Redistricting Update, NEWS, Redistricting
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State Court Invalidates the Wisconsin Legislature’s Retainer of Two Law Firms for Redistricting Litigation. Read the Opinion

By EditorApr 30, 2021
On Thursday, a Wisconsin Circuit Court voided two contracts state legislative leaders had entered into with two law firms in anticipation of redistricting litigation. The court concluded that both contracts are void because the legislative defendants were not authorized [under the state constitution or the various statutes contemplated in the case] to hire those firms for litigation purposes. Summary judgment was granted and defendants are permanently enjoined from authorizing any further payment on the two contracts for any services performed pursuant to them. Some excerpts from the court decision are below. Click here to read the opinion. Circuit Court: The…
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MALDEF: Civil Rights, Good Government Groups, and Experts, Decry Attempts to Use ACS Data as the Primary Basis for Redistricting

MALDEF: Civil Rights, Good Government Groups, and Experts, Decry Attempts to Use ACS Data as the Primary Basis for Redistricting

By EditorApr 30, 2021
A Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund (MALDEF) press release denounces the use of survey data from the U.S. Census Bureau as an alternate basis to draw redistricting maps. Various civil rights organizations and experts have released a joint statement expressing concerns about the practice. Read the press release and statement below. PRESS RELEASE Washington, DC – Today, more than 55 civil and human rights groups and expert individuals released a statement to warn against inappropriate uses of data from the American Community Survey (ACS) for the purposes of redistricting. Led by Advancing Justice – AAJC, MALDEF (Mexican American Legal Defense and…
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2020 California Citizens Redistricting Commission Hires Marcy Kaplan as Director of Outreach

2020 California Citizens Redistricting Commission Hires Marcy Kaplan as Director of Outreach

By EditorApr 29, 2021
Today, the 2020 California Citizens Redistricting Commission (Commission) announced Marcy Kaplan as the new Director of Outreach. Ms. Kaplan served as the Commission’s Outreach Manager under Executive Director Alvaro Hernandez. The announcement was made during the Commission meeting today. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE THURSDAY, APRIL 29, 2021CONTACT: FREDY CEJAFredy.Ceja@crc.ca.gov(916) 879-0699PRESS RELEASE2020 California Citizens Redistricting Commission Hires Marcy Kaplan as Director of OutreachSACRAMENTO, CA—Today, the 2020 California Citizens Redistricting Commission (Commission) announced Marcy Kaplan as the new Director of Outreach. Ms. Kaplan served as the Commission’s Outreach Manager under Executive Director Alvaro Hernandez. The announcement was made during the Commission meeting today. Ms.…
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After Apportionment Results Announced 3 Lawsuits are Filed in 3 States in Anticipation of Redistricting Gridlock

By EditorApr 27, 2021
On Tuesday, three lawsuits were filed in state courts in Louisiana, Minnesota, and Pennsylvania alleging "malapportioned" congressional maps (and statehouse maps in the case of Minnesota). Malapportionment challenges seek to invalidate a map for use in future elections until its population is rebalanced among districts through redistricting. All three suits were filed on behalf of voters in the three states by The National Redistricting Action Fund (NRAF) chaired by former Attorney General Eric Holder. A copy of each complaint is here: Louisiana, Minnesota, and Pennsylvania. The suits were filed in anticipation of gridlock between the legislature and executive branch, especially…
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2020 Census Apportionment Results Delivered to the President

2020 Census Apportionment Results Delivered to the President

By EditorApr 26, 2021
The U.S. Census Bureau issued this press release today in addition to holding a press conference announcing the official apportionment results from the 2020 Census. Originally due on December 31, 2020 - the results were delayed due to Covid-19 and litigation surrounding a presidential order to exclude non-citizens from the count. Read the press release below for a summary of the 2020 apportionment and state population results for the states. APRIL 26, 2021 – The U.S. Census Bureau announced today that the 2020 Census shows the resident population of the United States on April 1, 2020, was 331,449,281. The U.S. resident…
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U.S. Census Apportionment Results Are in. Here is the Data

U.S. Census Apportionment Results Are in. Here is the Data

By EditorApr 26, 2021
Today the U.S. Census Bureau announced the official apportionment results from the 2020 census. A press release detailing the data is below. In a press conference, the bureau announced that 7 U.S. House seats changed hands between states with Texas being the biggest gainer adding two additional seats. See the press release below for PDFs and data tables of the results. April 26, 2021: 2020 Census Apportionment Results Apportionment is the process of dividing the 435 memberships, or seats, in the U.S. House of Representatives among the 50 states. At the conclusion of each decennial census, the results are used…
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Census Bureau Releases Quality Indicators on 2020 Census

Census Bureau Releases Quality Indicators on 2020 Census

By EditorApr 26, 2021
Press Release: APRIL 26, 2021 — Today the U.S. Census Bureau released information about the quality of the 2020 Census from two methods: (1) analyses that compare the first census results to other ways of measuring the population, and (2) metrics that provide insight into the census operations. The Census Bureau accelerated plans for releasing this information because of increased interest in how COVID-19 and its impact on operations may have impacted the quality of the 2020 Census. This is the first time that the Census Bureau has released such detailed analyses and operational quality metrics on the same day as…
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The National Urban League (et al.) Agreed to Settle its Lawsuit Seeking to Slowdown the Census Work Plan. Here are the Details of the Agreement.

By EditorApr 24, 2021
On Thursday, the federal district court overseeing litigation challenging the U.S. Census Bureau's handling of 2020 Census data collection and post-processing, issued an order to dismiss the case with detailed stipulations for all parties involved. The lead plaintiff, The National Urban League and various other entities In National Urban League v. Raimondo have agreed to cease litigation in return for regular and robust assurances that 2020 Census data will be processed carefully and accurately. Below is a summary of the stipulations and selected quotes from the court's order. " . . .the parties agree that rather than continuing to dispute…
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