MALDEF Challenges Democratic Drawn Illinois State Legislative Map Citing Legislature’s Use of Census Survey Data

By EditorJun 13, 2021
The Mexican American Legal Defense Fund has sued in federal court after the Illinois legislature passed and the governor enacted a state legislative district map drawn using 5 yr census survey data (ACS) in place of the actual population count from the 2020 census. Read the complaint here. The complaint contends that the General Assembly has yet to release the alleged populations of the individual representative and legislative districts in the enacted map. The map was drawn by the legislature using ACS data due to the late release of the traditional population data used for redistricting, which is not anticipated…
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Illinois Minority Leaders Challenge State Legislative Map Drawn with Census Survey Data

By EditorJun 13, 2021
On June 4, Democratic Governor J.B. Pritzker signed a state legislative district map drawn and approved by the Democratic majority in the legislature. The Senate and House minority leaders have in turn sued to have the map overturned in federal court on account of the data that was used for balancing population between districts was census 'survey' estimate data (from the American Community Survey (ACS)), and not the hard count data historically used for redistricting. Read the complaint here. The controversy stems from the months-long delay in delivery of redistricting population data by the Census Bureau due to the Covid-19…
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Census Bureau Sets Key Parameters to Protect Privacy in 2020 Census Results

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…
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Monthly Redistricting Update: May

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

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

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

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

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

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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