Census
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.
A federal judge issued a temporary restraining order in National Urban League v. Ross against the winding down of in-person counting for the 2020 Census.
LWVUS and partners filed a lawsuit challenging the federal government’s decision to rush the Census counting period to a close amid a national public health emergency.
LWV of the United States and LWV of California, Florida, Texas filed an amicus brief in New York Immigrant Coalition v. Trump, a case which challenges President Trump’s executive order to block undocumented individuals from being counted in the U.S. Census.
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