Accurate census count matters for states — and our democracy
Any day now, Americans will be receiving a census questionnaire in the mail. Some will be tempted to ignore it for a range of reasons — they’re busy, they get too much mail, or they are reluctant to divulge personal information about themselves to the government. But they should not give in to this temptation: getting a fair and accurate census count is critical for our civil rights and liberties.
Accurate census data is necessary for equal representation in Congress, compliance with “one person, one vote,” the fair distribution of federal dollars, and effective enforcement of civil rights laws.
Members of Congress are apportioned to the states according to their respective numbers based on the census count. If the census undercounts the residents in a state because of failures to respond to the questionnaires, that state may lose representation in the U.S. House to which it would otherwise be entitled. Every one has an obvious interest in being fairly represented in Congress.
The census also is used in redistricting at the congressional, state, county and local levels. If the count is not accurate, districts that contain significant numbers of people who did not respond to the questionnaires would in fact be overpopulated and thus underrepresented, while other districts would be overrepresented. As the Supreme Court has held, the concept of political equality can mean only one thing — one person, one vote.
Based on the census count, $400 billion in federal funds will be allocated to communities across the country for public health, neighborhood improvement, new construction, transportation, education and other services. If the census undercounts residents in a state, it may lose funds.
Some object to the census asking questions about sex and race and view them as intrusions on privacy. Federal law, however, prohibits the use of census data for any purpose other than the statistical purposes for which it is collected and prohibits anyone other than authorized agents of the census to examine individual reports. The Census Bureau has a strong record of protecting confidential information.
Information about sex is also important in funding and evaluating various federal and state programs, such as those providing equal employment opportunities for women.
Information about race is similarly critical in assessing the fairness of employment practices, in monitoring racial disparities in health and education programs and obtaining funds for public services. And without racial data, it would be impossible to conduct redistricting in compliance with the racial fairness provisions of the Voting Rights Act.
Some are reluctant to answer the census questionnaire because they fear it will lead to deportation. None of the questions, however, ask for information about immigration or citizenship status. And not only are the answers confidential, but law enforcement and immigration officials cannot use them to deport or prosecute.
The 2010 census questionnaires will be the shortest in the nation’s history — only 10 questions. It is in the best interests of all of us to answer them.
Laughlin McDonald is voting rights project director for the American Civil Liberties Union.
