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Cards saying "Get Out the Count" next to LWV pins

Census

The US Census is the once-in-a-decade process of counting every resident in the country. This data is then used to create district maps during the redistricting cycle. 

Why It Matters

US Census data is used to make decisions around education, healthcare, infrastructure, and political representation. With increased growth across the country, getting an accurate and complete count of every person living within is crucial to ensure that each state receives funding to support the number of residents in each state. 

What We're Doing

The League’s Census work occurs in three phases: (1) Education; (2) Get Out to Count activities, (3) Watchdog reporting. In the months leading up to Census Day, Leagues around the country go into communities sharing information and resources about how to participate and the importance of the U.S. Census. On Census Day, the League works in a coalition to help get everyone counted, works in Complete Count Committees to share out information about low-reporting areas, and communicates where additional support is needed.

Now that the redistricting process has begun, the League is focused on empowering people to get involved in the creation of fair districts through Census data.

Latest from the League

On September 16, 2021, the U.S. Census Bureau will deliver their final resources to states to use for redistricting.  The delivery of this final set of resources is the culmination of years of hard work by career staff at the US Census Bureau.  

Like in years past, LWVUS was an official partner of the 2020 Census, helping to prepare and share tools and information to local and state Leagues as they engaged their communities. 

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In 2020, we experienced significant delays in the receipt of census data. This is largely due to an updated privacy protection model, which ensures greater confidentiality for respondents while keeping the data’s accuracy. 

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LWVUS with over 100 organizations urges Senators to cosponsor the bipartisan 2020 Census Deadline Extensions Act to extend the deadlines for delivering apportionment and redistricting data

Letters /

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