John,

The 2020 Census Results are in and show that the United States population has grown by over 7% since 2010. As such, the U.S. now has over 330 million people living within its borders. The 2020 Census has major impacts on the state of our nation and representation, which is outlined below.

What is the Census?

Every 10 years, the U.S. Census Bureau counts every single person living within the United States and its five territories. This 10-year count is mandated by the U.S. Constitution, and helps keep track of the shifting populations of the various provinces within the United States.

What are the Census results used for?

The results of the decennial Census determine the level of services provided to communities, such as firefighters, teachers, nurses, and doctors.  Further, the results are used to determine the number of congressional seats apportioned to each U.S. state. Thus, as populations shift over the years, the number of congressional seats a state has can increase or decrease. Furthermore, for presidential elections, the number of electoral votes each state has is equal to the state’s number of congressional seats. As such, as states gain or lose congressional seats based on the decennial Census results, the following presidential elections are impacted as well.

What are the 2020 Census results?

What does this all mean?

With new populations total per state and localities, new legislative districts will be drawn at both the federal and state levels. These new legislative districts will represent the shift in population from the last 10 years. Depending on your state, these new districts can be drawn by an independent commission, political commission, or by the authority of your state’s legislature. Check your state government’s website for information on state government redistricting. New legislative districts will be used for next year’s election cycle. Please keep an eye out for updated districts and/or district boundaries in your area.

We want to thank our AFGE family who worked diligently to get everyone in our nation counted! Our nation still has a lot of work ahead of it in redrawing House of Representative districts and distributing federal aid. We will keep you posted on any new major developments.

In Solidarity,

AFGE’s National Y.O.U.N.G. Committee

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