[EL] Census Bureau requests statutory delay in deadline to release Census results

[Douglas Johnson]

If the requested statutory relief is granted, this would have a huge impact
on states that have November 2021 legislative elections, and for states
(such as California) that have date-specific redistricting deadlines
written into state constitutions . . .

- Doug

Douglas Johnson
Rose Institute of State and Local Government at Claremont McKenna College
douglas.johnson at NDCresearch.com

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https://2020census.gov/en/news-events/press-releases/statement-covid-19-2020.html



*U.S. Department of Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross and U.S. Census Bureau
Director Steven Dillingham Joint Statement on 2020 Census Operational
Adjustments Due to COVID-19*

The 2020 Census is underway and more households across America are
responding every day. Over 70 million households have responded to date,
representing over 48% of all households in America.  In light of the
COVID-19 outbreak, the U.S. Census Bureau is adjusting 2020 Census
operations in order to:

Ø Protect the health and safety of the American public and Census Bureau
employees;

Ø Implement guidance from Federal, State, and local authorities; and

Ø Ensure a complete and accurate count of all communities.

The Census Bureau temporarily suspended 2020 Census field data collection
activities in March. Steps are already being taken to reactivate field
offices beginning June 1, 2020, in preparation for the resumption of field
data collection operations as quickly as possible following June 1.

In-person activities, including all interaction with the public,
enumeration, office work, and processing activities, will incorporate the
most current guidance to promote the health and safety of staff and the
public. This will include recommended personal protective equipment (PPE)
and social distancing practices.

Once 2020 Census data collection is complete, the Census Bureau begins a
lengthy, thorough, and scientifically rigorous process to produce the
apportionment counts, redistricting information, and other statistical data
products which help guide hundreds of billions of dollars in public and
private sector spending per year.

In order to ensure the completeness and accuracy of the 2020 Census, the
Census Bureau is seeking statutory relief from Congress of 120 additional
calendar days to deliver final apportionment counts.

Under this plan, the Census Bureau would extend the window for field data
collection and self-response to October 31, 2020, which will allow for
apportionment counts to be delivered to the President by April 30, 2021,
and redistricting data to be delivered to the states no later than July 31,
2021.
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