The American Democracy Minute Radio News Report & Podcast for June 10, 2025

You may have filled out a  U.S. Census questionnaire which promised to keep your individual data private.  There’s concern the Trump administration or Congress may add a question about your citizenship in the 2030 Census.  Would you answer it? 

Since 1790 the U.S. has counted the QUOTE “whole number of free persons,” not just citizens. The Census has always promised anonymity to respondents to get accurate answers, and that data informs important decisions on everything from road construction to education policy to voting districts.  

The first Trump administration tried to add a citizenship question to the 2020 Census, but it was struck down by the Supreme Court.  Trump later issued an executive order entitled, “Executive Order on Collecting Information about Citizenship Status in Connection with the Decennial Census,” a precursor to possibly not counting the whole population, but just citizens.  The Biden administration rescinded it, but Trump rolled back Biden’s order in January 2025. 

 IF a citizenship question were added to the 2030 Census, an academic study released in March found it would likely depress response to the questionnaire, leading to undercounts of Hispanics and overcounts of the White population, a likelihood not lost on partisan strategists.

Add in Trump’s recent orders allowing the sharing of personal information from federal agencies with DOGE, ICE, and state agencies, the effect on the Census could impact policies – and Congressional voting districts – for years to come. 

We have the study linked at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org. I’m Brian Beihl. 

Today’s Links

Articles & Resources:

National Archives – (2019) Trump Executive Order on Collecting Information about Citizenship Status in Connection with the Decennial Census
NPR – (2020) Citizenship Question May Be ‘Major Barrier’ To 2020 Census Participation
Journal of Policy Analysis and Management – Citizenship question effects on household survey response
Jowei Chen and Nicholas O. Stephanopoulos  – Democracy’s Denominator: What would happen if states stopped equalizing districts’ total populations and started equalizing their citizen voting-age
populations (CVAPs) instead?
Federal Register – Biden Executive Order:  Ensuring a Lawful and Accurate Enumeration and Apportionment Pursuant to the Decennial Census
Common Cause – Explainer: Trump’s Executive Order Rolling Back Census Protections
Votebeat – Trump’s quick executive actions could redefine who counts in our democracy
U.S. Congress – H.R.151 – Equal Representation Act proposing citizenship question in the U.S. Census, and excluding noncitizens from being counted

Groups Taking Action:

Common Cause, Campaign Legal Center

Register or Check Your Voter Registration:

U.S. Election Assistance Commission – Register And Vote in Your State

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#News #Democracy  #DemocracyNews #USCensus #TrumpExecutiveOrders #CitizenshipQuestion

The post How Adding a Citizenship Question in the Next U.S. Census Could Change the Make-Up of Congress appeared first on American Democracy Minute.

The American Democracy Minute Radio Report & Podcast for May 4, 2023

Today’s Script:  (Variations occur with audio due to editing for time)
Today’s Links now below the script

You’re listening to the American Democracy Minute, keeping YOUR government by and for the people.

America’s voters should pay attention to an Ohio state constitutional amendment to make its statewide ballot initiative process harder. The process to pass it is just about as ugly as the anti-voter resolution itself.

The Ohio House & Senate passed House Joint Resolution 1 in March, which raises the bar to pass statewide citizen ballot initiatives to 60% from the simple 50%+1 majority in place since 1912.  The proposed hurdle now needs voter ratification – urgently in the eyes of those who want to stop a proposal to constitutionally enshrine abortion rights headed for the November ballot.

What’s a gerrymandered legislature to do?  The Ohio Capital Journal reports that Senate Bill 92 restores an August 8th special election date which had been eliminated just months ago because of low turnout, just 8% on average, and it’s expense, estimated at $20 million dollars.  Those statistics didn’t deter the Ohio Senate from passing SB 92, or in the House, where it’s likely to pass before May 10th.  Governor Mike DeWine has pledged to sign it – despite having just signed the bill to repeal it last year.

The formidable bipartisan opposition includes former Ohio governors and over 200 groups, but so far, the legislature seems more interested in partisanship than precedent or people. 

We have links to the legislation, articles, and groups taking action at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org.  I’m Brian Beihl. 

Today’s Links

Articles & Resources:
BallotPedia – History of Initiative & Referendum in Ohio
Office of the Ohio Attorney General – Current Ballot Initiative and Referendum Processes
Ohio House – House Joint Resolution 1 

Ohio Capital Journal – Revived measure to require 60% for Ohio constitutional amendments gets first hearing
Associated Press – Abortion-rights proposal moves a step closer to Ohio ballot
Ohio Capitol Journal – Ohio House begins hearings to bring back August elections
The Columbus Dispatch – Ex-Ohio GOP Govs. John Kasich, Bob Taft blast plan to make it harder to amend constitution
Cleveland.com – Gov. Mike DeWine says he would sign bill allowing August election to decide constitution change
Ohio Capital Journal – (Commentary)  Bipartisan opposition makes Ohio Republican August election, minority-rule power grab look absurd

Groups Taking Action:
Common Cause OH Action page, League of Women Voters OH, Ohio Voter Rights Coalition, All Voting is Local

Please follow us on Facebook and Twitter and SHARE!  

Find all of our reports at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org

#Democracy  #DemocracyNews #DirectDemocracy

The post Ohio Legislature Forcing Through Restoration of Aug. 8th Election to Pass Hurdles for Citizen Ballot Initiatives & Block Potential Abortion Rights Measure appeared first on American Democracy Minute.