Census A to Z

Joint Election Officials Liaison Committee

January 7, 2010

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The 2010 Census

• Required by the U.S. Constitution– Article 1, Section 2– Decennial Census every 10 years

• On April 1, 2010, the decennial census will count all residents living in the U.S.

• Largest peacetime activity undertaken by the federal government

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2010 Census Data

• Determines apportionment of the U.S. House of Representatives-

• Used for congressional and legislative redistricting

• Affects the allocation of more than $400 BILLION in federal funding per year to local, state and tribal governments

A is for… Apportionment

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Uses of Census Data

States also use the totals to redraw their legislative districts

County and city governments use census data to redraw the boundaries of local political subdivisions including voting districts.

Over $400 billion in funding for more than 140 Federal programs is distributed to states and communities annually based on the latest census count.

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Federal Programs that Rely on Census Data

Community Development Block Grants/Entitlement Grants

Workforce Development ProgramsRural Development ProgramsFederal-Aid Highway ProgramSection 8 Housing Choice VouchersTitle 1 Grants to Local School DistrictsHead Start Program

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Census Jobs

The Census Bureau will create thousands of temporary jobs to carry out major census operations next spring.

Each Local Census Office has a manager and 5 assistant managers.

Job Fairs—(866) 861-2010

www.2010censusjobs.gov

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Testing sites

28 multiple choice test

Veterans are given either a 5 point or 10 point preference

There is also a preference for bilingual applicants in certain areas.

Applicants will be selected based on their test scores by census tract.

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A Major Challenge

MUST COUNT EVERYONE…

• Estimated 309 million people• Estimated 134 million households

...IN THE RIGHT PLACE!• 50 states & District of Columbia • Puerto Rico• Northern Mariana Islands• Guam• American Samoa • US Virgin Islands

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The Infrastructure – How We Get It Done

• Headquarters

• 12 Regional Census Centers

• 494 Local Census Offices– 7 offices in Puerto Rico

• Recruit 3.8 million applicants to hire 1.4 million temporary employees for all 2010 operations

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The 2010 Census Questionnaire

• Short Form Only• 10 minutes to complete• Questions include:

– Name– Gender– Age– Hispanic/Latino/Spanish Origin– Race– Relationship– Rent/Own

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What to Expect in 2010

Advance letter

Questionnaire

Reminder postcard

Some areas will receive a bilingual English Spanish questionnaire.

If you forget to return your completed questionnaire,

you will receive a replacement questionnaire.

If you do not return the replacement questionnaire…

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…Then a Census Taker Arrives

If a household does not mail back the questionnaire, then a census taker will come to the residence.

64% mail response in 2000.

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Ensuring the Confidentiality of Your Information

• By law, the Census Bureau does not share personal information with ANYONE

• Not even with other federal or law enforcement agencies

• The Census Bureau strips all identifying information and publishes only summary data

C is for… Confidentiality

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What Can You Do to Help?

• Form or participate in Complete Count Committees

• Help Census Bureau staff identify areas that will be hardest to count

• Strategize with us the most effective way to ensure everyone is counted in your community

• Use communication tools at your disposal to let your community know about the 2010 Census

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Completing the 2010 Census Cycle

• Census Day is April 1, 2010• Count everyone in less than 6 months• Deliver apportionment count to the President

by December 31, 2010• Deliver Redistricting Data to the States by

April 1, 2011• Complete release of all data products by Fall

2013

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http://2010.census.gov

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2010 Census Redistricting Data Program

• Public Law 94-171– Mandates the provision of small area data

required for legislative redistricting no later than 1 year following Census Day

– Requires the Census Bureau to work with the states to identify those small areas

– Examples: voting districts, census blocks

P is for… Public Law 94-171

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The Five Phases

• Phase 1 – State Legislative District Project• Phase 2 – Voting District/Block Boundary Suggestion

Project• Phase 3 – 2010 Census Data Delivery• Phase 4 – Collection of post-2010 Census

Redistricting Plans• Phase 5 – Evaluation and Recommendations• See brochure

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Phase 1 – State Legislative District Project

• 2005 – 2007• 100% participation• Collected state legislative district boundaries in effect

during ’06 elections• Tabulated 2000 Census data to those boundaries• Released data on DVD and AFF in January 2007• Updates collected during Phase 2• Geographic areas will be used to tabulate 2010

Census data

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Phase 2 – Voting District/Block Boundary Suggestion Project

• 2008 – 2010• Collecting voting district boundaries and tabulation

block boundary suggestions• Geographic areas will be used to tabulate 2010

Census data

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Phase 3 – 2010 Census Data Delivery

• Delivery of the P.L. 94-171 Redistricting Data and Geographic Products

• Geographic products delivered first, data products follow

• No later than April 1, 2011• Data includes:

– Race for the Total Population and Population 18 and Over– Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race for

the Total Population and Population 18 and Over– Total Housing Units (occupied and vacant)

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P.L. 94-171 Redistricting Data Prototype

• Prototype of the P.L. 94-171 Redistricting Data and Geographic Products released in April 2009

• Geographic products preceded the data products• Prototype will allow states, vendors, DOJ to develop

their redistricting data systems in advance of the official 2010 Census delivery

• School districts, housing unit table

R is for… Redistricting Data

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Phase 4 - Collection of post-2010 Census Redistricting Plans

• 2012-2013• Collection of newly drawn congressional and

legislative district boundaries• Tabulation of 2010 Census data to those new

districts• Release of data via DVD and AFF

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Section 203 Voting Rights Determinations

Determination of Covered AreasFor Voting Rights Bilingual Election

Materials  

For State, County, County Subdivision, and American Indian Area/Alaska Native Area/Hawaiian Home Land (AIA/ANA/HHL):

 

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Section 203 Voting Rights DeterminationsTotal Population

Total Population for Minority Groups:

• Spanish/Hispanic/Latino• AIAN (American Indian/Alaskan Native)• AIAN tribal group (examples include Cherokee, Iroquois, Sioux)• Asian• Asian group (examples include Chinese, Filipino, Japanese)Minority group data come from questions #5 & 6 on the American

Community Survey.

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Section 203 Voting Rights Determinations

Total Voting Age Population  Total Voting Age Citizens For each Minority Group: Total Voting Age Citizens who are Limited-English

Proficient Data on voting age comes from Question # 4 on the

American Community Survey Questionnaire. Data on citizenship comes from Question #8. Data on limited-English proficiency comes from Question #11c.

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Section 203 Voting Rights Determinations

For each Minority Group: Total Voting Age Citizens who are Limited-English

Proficient Data on voting age comes from Question # 8 on the

2000 American Community Survey questionnaire. Data on citizenship comes from Question #13. Data on limited-English proficiency comes from Question #14c.

 

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Section 203 Voting Rights Determinations

For each Minority Group: Total Voting Age Population that is Limited-English

Proficient Data on voting age comes from Question # 4 on the

2000 Census Long Form Questionnaire. Data on limited-English proficiency comes from Question #14c

 

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Section 203 Voting Rights DeterminationsFor each Minority Group:Total Voting Age Citizens who have Less than a 5th grade EducationTotal Voting Age Citizens who are Limited-English Proficient and have Less Than a 5th grade EducationData on voting age comes from Question #4. Citizenship from question #8 and limited-English proficiency from #14c. Data on educational attainment #11.

+

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Section 203 Voting Rights DeterminationsIf more than 5% of voting age citizens are limited-English proficient, OR If more than 10,000 voting age citizens are limited-English proficient, AND The rate of total voting age citizens that are limited-English proficient

and have less than a 5th grade education is higher than the national rate of 1.35,

 

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Section 203 Voting Rights DeterminationsTHEN: The state, county, or county subdivision under consideration is

covered for that specific minority group of Section 203 of the Voting Rights Act.

Note: If it is determined that an AIA/ANA/HHL meets the above criteria, than any political subdivision that contains that AIA/ANA/HHL is covered.

 

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Section 203 Voting Rights Determinations

Reauthorization in 2006 requires the Census Bureau to provide determinations at least twice during the decade.

Next revision, using the American Community Survey will come out in 2012.

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Phase 5 – Evaluation and Recommendations for 2020 Census

• The “View From the States” will appear in a final publication and will be used to formulate the 2020 Census Redistricting Data Program

• See publication

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For More Informationon the Redistricting Data Program

www.census.gov/rdo

For More Informationon the Redistricting Data Program

www.census.gov/rdo

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What Happened to the Long Form?

• It’s now the American Community Survey (ACS) collecting information from three million households and group quarters every year.

• ACS data can be accessed now via American FactFinder at www.census.gov

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Questions?

Cathy McCully, Chief

Census Redistricting Data Office

301-763-4039