Recent Census Data Developments Call into Question its Suitability for Redistricting

By EditorAug 01, 2021

In the span of just a few days and just weeks before official census redistricting data is scheduled to be released, the Census Bureau reveals two rather startling revelations about the data. "Fuzzy Blocks" First, the Acting Census Director Ron Jarmin warned in the Director's Blog that the information in individual census blocks - the smallest and most detailed unit of data - will appear "fuzzy" and at times nonsensical due to the Bureau's application of privacy measures, and thus should not be used for building redistricting maps. Blocks are often used as the basic building blocks of redistricting maps…

Census Data and Geography, DATA and TECHNOLOGY, LATEST, NEWS, Redistricting, Redistricting Functions, Redistricting Prepcensus, census 2020, dataindepth, differential privacy, IN-DEPTH, national, redistprep, U.S. Census Bureau

Resources Available to Prepare for the 2020 Census Redistricting Data Release

By EditorJul 28, 2021

Press Release- BY JAMES WHITEHORNE, CHIEF, REDISTRICTING DATA AND VOTING RIGHTS OFFICE: In a few weeks, we’ll release the 2020 Census redistricting data in our legacy summary file format. And a few weeks after that, we’ll release the same data in an easier-to-use format. We’re releasing the same data twice but in different formats at different times to make sure states get the data as quickly as possible. Acting Director Dr. Ron Jarmin explained these two releases in his blog, Redistricting Data: What to Expect and When. In this blog, I provide more detail about the formats and support materials available,…

Census Data and Geography, DATA and TECHNOLOGY, LATEST, NEWS, Redistricting, Redistricting Prepcensus, census 2020, dataindepth, IN-DEPTH, national, redistprep, redistricting data, U.S. Census Bureau

Census Bureau Moves Up Release of Demonstration Data to Coincide with August Redistricting Data Release

By EditorJul 23, 2021

Press Release (July 22, 2021): In response to stakeholder input about the value of earlier access to demonstration data that feature the 2020 Census Disclosure Avoidance System’s chosen production settings, the Census Bureau is moving up the release date for the demonstration data to coincide with the release (by August 16) of the legacy-formatted redistricting data. We’ll announce the specific release date in the coming weeks. The Census Bureau released metrics for the chosen production settings July 1 (see newsletter). We understand, based on your feedback, that access to the demonstration data coincident to the initial redistricting data release will…

Census Data and Geography, DATA and TECHNOLOGY, LATEST, NEWS, Redistrictingcensus, census 2020, dataindepth, differential privacy, national, U.S. Census Bureau

Watch: CNN Interview with UC Irvine Law Professor Rick Hasen Discussing Supreme Court’s Voting Rights Decision in Brnovich

By EditorJul 03, 2021

In a CNN interview, University of California Law Professor Rick Hasen, author of the popular Election Law Law Blog, explains his take on the Supreme Court's Brnovich decision regarding Section 2 of the Votings Rights Act of 1965. Also below, is his blog post analyzing the decision shortly after the decision was handed down on Thursday. Read the Brnovich opinion here. https://vimeo.com/570075479/cee7c476e7 ELECTION LAW BLOG: Breaking and Analysis: Supreme Court on 6-3 Vote Rejects Voting Rights Act Section 2 Case in Brnovich Case— A Significant Weakening of Section 2 The Supreme Court, in a 6-3 decision, has severely weakened Section…

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Supreme Court Upholds Arizona Voting Laws Against Sec. 2 Voting Rights Challenge in Brnovich

By EditorJul 01, 2021

The U.S. Supreme Court issued its opinion today overturning a lower court's decision striking down two Arizona voting laws under Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. The two laws the court upheld restricted out-of precinct voting and certain ballot collection activities in Arizona. Many experts view this as a severe weakening of the Voting Rights Act's protections for minority voters. The Court did seem to distinguish its interpretation of Section 2 in this case, from how it is applied in minority vote dilution redistricting map cases. Read the opinion here. The two voting laws at issue require…

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Federal Court Rejects Alabama’s Census Lawsuit

By EditorJun 29, 2021

An Alabama federal district court has rejected the State of Alabama's lawsuit requesting that the U.S. Census Bureau refrain from using the differential privacy method to modify individual census responses and move up the release of census data. Read the opinion here. The case in all likelihood will be appealed directly to the U.S. Supreme Court. The court writes: "On March 10, 2021, the State of Alabama, Congressman Robert Aderholt, and two Alabama voters (collectively, “Plaintiffs”) brought this suit against the U.S. Department of Commerce (“the Department”), the U.S. Bureau of the Census (“the Bureau”), and certain federal officials (collectively,…

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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…

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

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…

Census Data and Geography, DATA and TECHNOLOGY, FEATURES, LATEST, NEWS, Redistrictingapportionment, dataindepth, national