As Covid-19 swept the nation this spring, the bureau was forced to postpone key parts of its population count until August. But as census outreach prepared to resume last month, the administration reversed course, ordering the count wrapped up by September 30, and delivery of totals by December 31. But the Census Bureau can only deliver population totals to the White House by December 31 if it shortens the time spent counting residents. And with an uphill battle to win a second term in the election in November, Mr. Trump can be assured of control over population totals only if they are delivered to the White House by that deadline. Critics have called that a baldly political attempt to create a whiter, more Republican-leaning population total for use in reapportionment and redistricting.

Source: New York Times September 06, 2020 20:37 UTC