NPR reported that the Census Bureau will be cutting operations a month short to conclude on September 30.

Forcing the U.S. Census Bureau to rush the census in the middle of a pandemic is part of an intentional plot to sabotage the census to reflect a less diverse and inaccurate portrait of America. A rushed census shortchanges critical operations that count people of color, American Indians, low-income people, and people experiencing homelessness. This would skew Congressional representation, redistricting, and critical funding for every state in the country.  

Today’s news raises the urgency for Congress to ACT to extend the statutory deadlines for reporting apportionment and redistricting data from the 2020 Census. Below are some resources and suggested actions to take. We encourage partners to release statements and mobilize in opposition to efforts to shortchange critical operations that count people of color, American Indians, low-income people, and people experiencing homelessness. We must push back hard.

TAKE ACTION: (Note that some of these actions may be considered grassroots lobbying if you are referencing specific legislation. Always check with your legal counsel before proceeding with action.) 

• Issue a Statement in opposition to the effort to shortchange census operations that count people of color, American Indians, low-income people, and people experiencing homelessness. 
• Write an OpEd on the harm of an inaccurate and incomplete census on your community.
• Send an Action Alert to your members, encouraging them to call their Senators to vote to extend the statutory deadlines for reporting apportionment and redistricting data from the 2020 Census. 
• Join a Census Project sign on letter: If your organization (national, state or local) would like to sign on, please complete this form. Signatures from individuals are also being accepted. Please respond to this sign-on opportunity by COB Wednesday, August 5.

RESOURCES AND MATERIALS:

• New Maps Comparing 2010 and 2020 Self Response Rates: City University of NY produced two new maps this morning, showing for counties and congressional districts (separate maps), how far they are behind their 2010 Census response rates or if they have met those rates. As you will see, the maps paint a stark picture of the scope of remaining census household counting operations (NRFU, or door-knocking). The maps show visually the consequences of rushing remaining census operations, especially in the midst of pandemic and the season of natural disasters.