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  The Biden administration rescinded it, but Trump rolled back Biden’s order in January 2025.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.

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Today’s Links

Articles:  

Ballotpedia – Early voting dates, 2022
KMSP TV – Early voting in Minnesota: Everything you need to know for 2022 midterms
AARP Wyoming – How to Vote in Wyoming’s 2022 Elections
State of South Dakota – 2022 Election Information

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

With the last of the state primaries completed September 13, the focus now turns to the general election on November 8th.   But for some states with early voting, casting a ballot may start this week.   

Ballotpedia reports that qualifying voters in Minnesota, South Dakota and Wyoming begin casting ballots on September 23rd for the midterm general election, and continue to November 7th.

Then on September 29, Illinois, Michigan and North Dakota begin, also ending on November 7.   Throughout October, another 35 states allow for some kind of early voting, whether in person or by mail, with most states ending a day or two prior to the traditional election day, this year, November 8th.  Kentucky and Oklahoma have only 2 and 3 days respectively, both ending November 5th.   

The U.S. Census Bureau reports that among those living in states that used nontraditional voting methods, turnout increased in 2020 by 7.7 percent compared with 2016.  In Hawaii, 97.6% of voters cast ballots early or by mail in 2020 and voting participation increased by an estimated 17 percent.

To participate in early voting – or any voting – you must be registered.  If you are not registered, check with your local or county election offices, or your state’s Secretary of State website for more details.

Details on when your state’s early voting begins and ends are available at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org.  For the American Democracy Minute, I’m Brian Beihl. 

The post ADM for Sept. 21, 2022: Early Voting for the Midterm General Election Begins in Sept. for Six States appeared first on American Democracy Minute.