One of the most important things that happened in 2020 was the COVID-19 pandemic. This is a disease that spread all over the world and made many people sick. People had to stay at home and wear masks to protect themselves and others. This was very different from what people were used to, and it changed the way people lived their lives. However, there was another significant event that took place in 2020 that may have gone unnoticed by many: the first time in 147 years that the United States Census Bureau missed its deadline to deliver the population count to the president.
The Census Bureau is responsible for conducting the decennial census, a count of every person living in the United States. This count is used to determine the distribution of federal funds, the number of seats each state has in the U.S. House of Representatives, and much more. The census is a vital tool for shaping the future of the country, and it must be conducted accurately and on time.
The deadline for delivering the census count to the president is December 31 of the census year. However, in 2020, the Census Bureau missed this deadline for the first time since 1873. The delay was due to several factors, including the COVID-19 pandemic, which forced the Bureau to suspend field operations for several months.
Another factor that contributed to the delay was the Trump administration’s efforts to exclude undocumented immigrants from the census count. In July 2020, President Trump issued a memorandum directing the Census Bureau to exclude undocumented immigrants from the count used to allocate congressional seats. This directive was met with legal challenges, and the Supreme Court ultimately ruled that the administration could not exclude undocumented immigrants from the count. However, the legal battles further delayed the census count.
The delay in delivering the census count to the president had several consequences. First, it meant the apportionment of congressional seats could not be completed on time. This delayed the redistricting process, which is used to determine the boundaries of congressional districts. As a result, some states were unable to complete their redistricting in time for the 2022 midterm elections.
Second, the delay in delivering the census count also affected the distribution of federal funds. The census count is used to allocate billions of dollars in federal funding to states and localities. The delay meant that some states and localities did not receive their fair share of federal funds, which had a significant impact on their ability to provide essential services to their residents.
Finally, the delay in delivering the census count also had political implications. The census count is used to determine the number of seats each state has in the U.S. House of Representatives. The delay meant that some states did not gain or lose seats in the House as they would have if the count had been completed on time. This significantly impacted the balance of power in Congress and the Electoral College.
The delay in providing the census results to the president in 2020 was a significant event with widespread impacts. It marked the first time in 147 years that the Census Bureau had missed its deadline, and it had a profound effect on the allocation of federal funds, the redrawing of political districts, and the balance of power in Congress.
