LWVUS submitted a letter to the Department of Commerce and Census Bureau requesting that public comment on the census residence rule be extend to 90 days.
Mr. Daniel Sweeney
Deputy General Counsel for Economic, Statistical, and Regulatory Affairs
Office of the General Counsel, Department of Commerce
4600 Silver Hill Road
Designation: ADDEMO/FRN
Washington, DC 20746
Re: Request for Extension of Comment Period for Proposed Rule: “Decennial Census of the Population of Americans; Proposed Residence Criteria and Proposed Regulations for Demographic Questions” (Docket No. 260903-0005; RIN 0607-AA75)
September 30th, 2026
Dear Mr. Sweeney,
The League of Women Voters of the United States (the League) writes to formally submit a procedural request regarding the US Census Bureau’s Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) published on September 10, 2026, titled Decennial Census of the Population of Americans; Proposed Residence Criteria and Proposed Regulations for Demographic Questions (Docket No. 260903-0005).
The Census Bureau has provided a 33-day public comment period which closes on October 13th, 2026. The League respectfully requests that the Department of Commerce extend the public comment period to provide 90 days for public review and comment.
We believe the scope and extent of the rule change deserve more time for the public, state and local governments, demographers, nonprofit and civil rights organizations, businesses, researchers, legal scholars, and everyday individuals to read, analyze, and respond meaningfully and thoroughly to these sweeping changes. The current deadline of October 13th, 2026, is insufficient for such a broad group of stakeholders to draft and offer thorough and useful responses. The League is part of this group of stakeholders. As a 106-year-old nonpartisan nonprofit, we have always been committed to ensuring that everyone is represented in our democracy. We are a grassroots organization comprised of over one million members and supporters in all 50 states and the District of Columbia across more than 800 local and state Leagues. The League focuses on advocacy, education, litigation, and organizing to advance our mission of empowering voters and defending democracy. We base our work on policy positions developed from multi-year studies and derived through consensus among League membership to ensure our advocacy reflects best practices and a nationwide perspective.
For decades, the League has been deeply committed to ensuring the success of the decennial census processes and the ongoing efforts of the US Census Bureau. We believe in a full, fair, and accurate census, as the census is essential to all basic functions of our society. The League’s experience supporting the census includes public education, Get Out the Count initiatives, and community engagement. Historically, the League has been a critical partner to the Census Bureau across the country, as our local affiliates share information and resources on how to participate in the census count and raise awareness about the importance of the census in better understanding our communities.
The League has worked with the Census Bureau over the years to continue improving the census process. We hope that by granting this request, the League and stakeholders around the country can continue to meaningfully offer their expertise on the proposed rule.
We respectfully urge the Department of Commerce and the US Census Bureau to extend the public comment period for Docket No. 260903-0005 to 90 days from the date of publication.
For any questions, please contact Jessica Jones-Capparell at [email protected].
Thank you for considering our request.
Sincerely,
Jessica Jones-Capparell
Director of Government Affairs, League of Women Voters US