2020 Census Delays, Apportionment, and Congressional Redistricting (CRS Report for Congress)
| Release Date |
Oct. 5, 2022 |
| Report Number |
IN12027 |
| Report Type |
Insight |
| Authors |
Sarah J. Eckman |
| Source Agency |
Congressional Research Service |
Summary:
Every decade, the apportionment (or reapportionment) process determines the distribution of U.S. House
seats across states. The Constitution requires a U.S. population count every 10 years (the federal
decennial census) in order to distribute House seats based on each state’s population. Once the census and
apportionment are complete, states then engage in redistricting to create or redraw geographic
subdivisions for each House district and for their own state legislatures.
Data delivery delays following the 2020 Census raised some concerns about possible effects on the ability
of states to conduct redistricting ahead of the next election cycle. For example, the condensed timeline
may have presented challenges for states to complete congressional redistricting by constitutional or
statutory redistricting deadlines, candidate filing deadlines, or primary election dates.
Each state with multiple congressional districts has completed its initial redistricting process and many
states did so ahead of those related dates, although not without difficulties in at least some states.
Enacting an initial redistricting plan, however, does not necessarily mean redistricting has entirely
concluded until the next apportionment. As with every contemporary redistricting cycle, legal challenges
to some maps have been made, which can necessitate further congressional district changes.
