Though the 2030 Census is still four years away, the US Census Bureau has released a proposed rule “that would change some of the most consequential aspects of the decennial census: who gets counted, where they get counted and what questions get asked,” according to a September 28 National League of Cities report by Dante Moreno.

The proposal isn’t in final form, and comments on the proposed changes are due October 13. Following are some of the changes, and readers may want to take advantage of this opportunity by using a template prepared by the NLC.

Following, according to Moreno, are the most significant proposed changes:

• “Changing the decennial census from counting everybody living in your community to only counting American citizens and lawful permanent residents (green card holders) for apportionment. This likely would also impact the state and federal funding available to communities.”

• “Considering the addition of a legal-status (e.g. citizenship) question on the decennial census.”

• “Changing what counts as a person’s ‘usual residence.’”

• “Changing what data the Census Bureau uses for the decennial census, including increasing the reliance on administrative data which can lead to inaccurate census counts.”

• “Barring collection of information on race and ethnicity, which have been asked since 1790, and sexual orientation, which have not been included on previous decennial censuses. It would make other demographic questions optional.”

These proposed changes are not just a matter of dry statistics. As the NLC explains, “the census count determines your community’s federal representation and is the baseline that states and localities use to redraw legislative and council districts. Excluding a category of residents from that count, no matter how large or small a share of your population, changes those totals. Municipalities with meaningful immigrant, refugee and visa populations, regardless of legal status mix, could see their counted population shift.”

What’s more, “a rule that ties enumeration more closely to legal status” and the expansion of the Bureau’s use of administrative records from federal agencies, “could serve as deterrents to an accurate count of all households and individuals served by local government operations and services, and their contributions to local economies.”

Finally, reports the NLC, the proposed shift in census practice to tax records and cross-agency administrative data could shift residence determinations. “Doing so could change how renters, seasonal workers, students and other mobile populations might be counted. This operational shift could impact smaller and rapidly growing communities that don’t fit neatly into a ‘one home, one tax return’ model and jurisdictions do not have such administrative data necessary to replace door-to-door engagement.”

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