Decennial Census Data Quality
The goal of every census is to “count everyone once, only once, and in the right place.” The requirement to count every person is so crucial to American life that it appears in the mandates of the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution regarding apportionment and is reinforced in Title 13 of U.S. Code. Census counts are used for everything from apportionment to scientific research. Because the census is so important, research and policies that support an accurate count are essential.
Regulatory Proposal Puts Census Accuracy at Risk
Proposed regulations for the decennial census (“Decennial Census of the Population of Americans; Proposed Residence Criteria and Proposed Regulations for Demographic Questions”) introduce several changes that have sweeping implications for data quality and accuracy. In addition to concerning changes proposed for demographic questions, the proposal includes revisions to residence criteria that would:
- Mandate that “a person’s ‘usual residence’ should be consistent with, and evidenced by, their tax records ( e.g., tax returns, W-2 forms)”
- Narrow the definition of usual residence to where someone “lawfully” spent their time
- Implement an unprecedented “reference period” rather than focusing on Census Day
If the proposed rule advances, it would become federal law (Code of Federal Regulations) rather than, as is traditional, simply being Census Bureau policy. Our research team assessed the potential consequences of several of the proposed changes. Read our analyses:
- Residence criteria raise questions about whether people will be counted in the right place (or at all)
- Challenges with using tax records for enumeration forthcoming
- Military personnel may be counted in the wrong place
Unsigned Report Weakens Census Bureau Reputation
A report, “Noncitizen Voting in the 2020 Election, A Beginning Analysis,” was published under the Census Bureau’s banner, but with no attribution. The report raises numerous red flags on methods and research integrity. Read our analysis: