How to Challenge Census Results: New Information Available from the Census Bureau
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The Census Bureau has added new, detailed information on how to challenge 2020 Census results to their website at https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census/decade/2020/planning-management/evaluate/cqr.html. Information includes instructive materials, templates, maps, and software needed for participation.
The process to challenge census results is called the Census Count Question Resolution Operation (CQR). CQR allows local governments to request that the Census Bureau review their boundaries and/or housing counts by block to correct any in-scope errors affecting the inclusion and/or geographic allocation of housing and population counts. The Census Bureau will accept CQR cases requesting a review of legal boundaries (boundary case), a review of housing counts by 2020 census tabulation block (housing count case), or a review of both, and will research each case received. If certain geographic or processing errors are discovered during research, the Census Bureau will resolve the errors and distribute revised counts to all affected governmental units. While these changes can have an impact on federal funding and will be reflected in future population estimates, it will not have an impact on redistricting.
The timeline opened to challenge results on January 3, 2022 and will run through June 30, 2023.
Key Resources:
CQR Submission Portal: https://respond.census.gov/swim/
Group Quarter Review
If your county wants to request a review of group quarters populations counts, there is a separate proposed program that will be available called the 2020 Post-Census Group Quarters review (2020 PCGQR). A Federal Notice has been posted on this proposed program. It is still in the open comment period, however the proposal states that instructions on how to participate will be released in the spring and the submission period will be from spring 2022 through summer 2023.
