Why is the Census an important civil rights issue?
A. Census data are used to apportion congressional seats and electoral college votes to each state, to carry out congressional, state, and local redistricting. and to monitor and enforce compliance with civil rights statutes, including the Voting Rights Act of 1965, and employment, housing, lending, and education anti-discrimination laws. Census results are also used to allocate billions in federal funds. Because the accuracy of the census directly affects our nation’s ability to ensure equal representation and equal access to important governmental resources for all Americans, ensuring a fair and accurate census must be regarded as one of the most significant civil rights issues facing the country today.
