[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 135 (Tuesday, July 15, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 41258-41259]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-16532]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Bureau of the Census
[Docket Number 140626541-4541-01]
Establishment of the 2020 Census Redistricting Data Program
AGENCY: Bureau of the Census, Department of Commerce
ACTION: Notice of Program.
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SUMMARY: This notice announces and seeks comments on the establishment
of the 2020 Census Redistricting Data Program. Required by law, the
program provides states the opportunity to specify the small geographic
areas for which they wish to receive 2020 decennial population totals
for the purpose of reapportionment and redistricting.
DATES: Comments on this notice are due by September 5, 2014. The
deadline for states to notify the Bureau of the Census (Census Bureau)
that they wish to participate in Phase 1, the Block Boundary Suggestion
Project, is August 1, 2015.
ADDRESSES: Please direct all written comments on this notice to the
Director, U.S. Census Bureau, 4600 Silver Hill Road, Room 8H-002,
Washington DC 20233.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Catherine C. McCully, Chief, Census
Redistricting Data Office, U.S. Census Bureau, Room 8H-019, Washington
DC 20233, telephone (301) 763-4039.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under the provisions of Title 13, Section
141(c) of the United States Code (U.S.C.), the Secretary of Commerce
(Secretary) is required to provide the ``officers or public bodies
having initial responsibility for the legislative apportionment or
districting of each state . . .'' with the opportunity to specify
geographic areas (e.g., voting districts) for which they wish to
receive decennial census population counts for the purpose of
reapportionment or redistricting.
By April 1 of the year following the decennial census, the
Secretary is required to furnish the state officials or their designees
with population counts for American Indian areas, counties, cities,
census blocks, and state-specified congressional, legislative
districts, and voting districts.
In accordance with the provisions of 13 U.S.C. 141(c), the Director
of the Census Bureau, on behalf of the Secretary of Commerce, announces
the establishment of the 2020 Census Redistricting Data Program. The
Census Bureau will issue an invitation to the officers or public bodies
having initial responsibility for legislative reapportionment and
redistricting this fall through the Census Redistricting Data Office
inviting states to identify a non-partisan liaison that will work
directly with the Census Bureau on the 2020 Census Redistricting Data
Program. Once these liaisons are established, the Census Bureau will
coordinate communications involving the commencement of the program.
Since the 1990 Census, participation in both the Census
Redistricting Data Program's Block Boundary Suggestion Project and
Voting District Project (2020 Redistricting Data Program Phases 1 and
2) under 13 U.S.C. is voluntary on the part of each state. However, if
states choose not to participate in Phase 1 and Phase 2, the Census
Bureau cannot ensure that the decennial census 2020 tabulation
geography will support the redistricting needs of their state.
Phase 1: Block Boundary Suggestion Project (BBSP)
Beginning in the late summer of 2014, the Census Bureau will
correspond with the legislative leadership and executive officer of
each state to establish a 2020 Census Redistricting Data Program
liaison. The Census Bureau will formally announce through a subsequent
Federal Register Notice the commencement of Phase 1, the Block Boundary
Suggestion Project (BBSP). The purpose of the BBSP is to afford states
the opportunity to identify non-standard features often used as
electoral boundaries (such as a powerline or stream, rather than a
street centerline which might divide voters into two districts) as
census block boundaries. The BBSP option affords the state liaison the
opportunity to provide suggestions for 2020 census tabulation block
boundaries resulting in more meaningful block data for the state.
Liaisons are able to work with local officials including county
election officers and others to ensure local geography is represented
in the 2020 tabulation block inventory. In addition, the liaison, on
behalf of the state, will make suggestions for features not desirable
as census tabulation blocks. By identifying undesirable features, the
liaison may assist the Bureau in reducing the overall number of census
tabulation blocks from the 2010 inventory. Beginning in late fall of
2015, states that choose to participate in Phase 1 will begin receiving
guidelines and training for providing their suggestions for the 2020
census tabulation blocks as well as their suggestions for exclusion of
line segments for consideration in the
[[Page 41259]]
final 2020 census tabulation block inventory. For the first time,
states will have the opportunity to review legal limits, such as
incorporated places, American Indian areas and county boundaries, as
reported through the Boundary and Annexation Survey (BAS). The
alignment of the BAS with the BBSP will facilitate the cooperation
between state and local government. A verification phase will occur in
early 2017.
Phase 2: Voting District Project (VTDP)
The Census Bureau will formally announce through a subsequent
Federal Register Notice the commencement of Phase 2, the Voting
District Project. The VTDP will provide the state liaison, on behalf of
the state, to submit the voting districts (a generic term used to
represent areas that administer elections such as precincts, election
districts, wards, etc.) to the Census Bureau for representation in the
2020 Census P.L. 94-171 products (data and geographic products).
Beginning in late 2017, states that choose to participate in Phase 2,
the Voting District Project will receive on a flow basis, geographic
products that afford them the opportunity to update the Voting
Districts (VTDs) for inclusion in the 2020 Census tabulation geography.
State liaisons will continue to align their effort with updates from
state and local government officials participating in the BAS. The VTD/
BAS update and alignment will continue through spring of 2018. A
verification phase will occur in early 2019 for states that
participated in Phase 2.
Phase 3: Delivery of the Decennial Census 2020 Redistricting Data
By April 1, 2021, the Director of the Census Bureau will, in
accordance with 13 U.S.C. 141(c), furnish the Governor and state
legislative leaders, both the majority and minority, with 2020 Census
population counts for standard census tabulation areas (e.g., state,
Congressional district, state legislative district, American Indian
area, county, city, town, census tract, census block group, and census
block) regardless of a state's participation in Phase 1 or 2. The
Director of the Census Bureau will provide 2020 population counts for
those states participating in Phase 2, for both the standard tabulation
areas and for voting districts. For each state, this delivery will
occur prior to general release and no later than April 1, 2021.
Phase 4: Collection of Post-Census 2010 Redistricting Data Plans
Beginning in 2021, the Census Bureau will solicit from each state
the newly drawn legislative and Congressional district plans and
prepares appropriate data sets based on the new districts. This effort
will occur every two years in advance of the 2030 Census in order to
update these boundaries with new or changed plans. A verification phase
will occur with each update.
Phase 5: Review of the 2020 Census Redistricting Data Program and
Recommendations for the 2030 Redistricting Data Program
As the final phase of the 2020 Census Redistricting Data Program,
the Census Bureau will work with the states to conduct a thorough
review of the program. The intent of this review, and the final report
that results, is to provide guidance to the Secretary of Commerce and
the Census Bureau Director in planning the 2030 Census Redistricting
Data Program.
Please address questions concerning any aspect of the 2020 Census
Redistricting Data Program to the person identified in the contact
section of this notice.
Dated: July 9, 2014.
John H. Thompson,
Director, Bureau of the Census.
[FR Doc. 2014-16532 Filed 7-14-14; 8:45 am]
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