Further Delays in Census Data

As the New York Times reports today, the Census Bureau is indicating it will further delay the release of data used to draw legislative and congressional maps. Usually this data is available in March of the year following the Census.

In Georgia, special sessions to draw redistricting maps have traditionally been held in August or September of the year following the Census after having the data in hand for four or more months. That kind of timeline will be dramatically different in 2021, making a late-year special session necessary to draw maps. With a one-year residency requirement from the election date, incumbents will likely be unable to move in time if district boundaries change.

In states with legislative elections in 2021, it will be impossible to draw maps in time unless at least some data is released earlier. Legislatures will likely need to rely on American Community Survey data or other sources to plan for their special sessions.