Federal Register Notice for comment: Prototype 2020 P.L. 94-171 Redistricting Data File design

Tyson Weister over 6 years ago

Today, a Federal Register announcement requesting comment on the prototype for the 2020 P.L. 94-171 Redistricting Data File design was released.

The Census Bureau produces a prototype redistricting data product to illustrate what the states can expect from the data release under Public Law 94-171. This prototype is then used to build and test redistricting systems in advance of the release of the decennial data to the states.

The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) is evaluating a revision to the standards under which the federal government collects and reports statistics on race and ethnicity. While a decision has not been made on the revised standards, one issue being reviewed is the use of separate questions, as were used in 2010, versus a single combined question on race and ethnicity.

If OMB determines a separate question is required, we will use the 2010 design for the 2020 Census. However, to prepare for the possibility of a combined question, we are asking for comment on the design that changes the data tables to reflect the combined question collection.

If you have any questions, please contact James Whitehorne, Chief of the Census Redistricting and Voting Rights Data Office, U.S. Census Bureau, 4600 Silver Hill Road, Room 4H057, Washington, DC 20233, Telephone (301) 763-4039, or by email at rdo@census.gov.