Washington, D.C. — Today, the Trump administration released a proposal to change the U.S. census in ways that would significantly affect voting maps. These changes include excluding noncitizens from the census, halting the collection of race and ethnicity data, and removing questions about sexual orientation and domestic partnership.
In response, William Roberts, senior vice president of Rights and Justice at the Center for American Progress, issued the following statement:
The administration’s proposal is a flagrant assault on our democracy, designed to manipulate voting maps and dilute the political representation of diverse American communities.
Eliminating questions on race, ethnicity, and sexual orientation strips our government of critical data needed to ensure vital resources are extended to the communities who need them most; and notably, it would also make it more difficult to enforce the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Furthermore, excluding undocumented immigrants and noncitizens from congressional apportionment directly violates the Fourth Amendment’s mandate to count the “whole number of persons in each state.”
CAP condemns this blatant attempt to weaponize the census for political gain. Congress has final authority over the census, and the public has 30 days to write their representatives and oppose this rule.
For more information or to speak with an expert, contact Mishka Espey at [email protected].