The Hinckley Institute Radio Hour — This week on the program, a panel of experts discusses the U.S. census and its effects on Utah’s economy, politics and communities. The 2020 census faced unprecedented obstacles due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the Trump administration’s failed attempt to add a question on immigration status to the standard census form. These actions by former President Trump have caused some Democrats and voting rights advocates to question if this led to an undercount of Latin residents.
Information from the 2020 census shows Utah was the fastest-growing state over the last decade, with a population increase of 18.4 percent. Utah now has nearly 3.28 million people, making it the 30th most populous state. However, this first-in-the-nation growth was a smaller percentage increase than both 1990 to 2000 and 2000 to 2010 in Utah.
While the drawing of new congressional and legislative districts will take place as more information is made available, the apportionment of congressional districts will lead to shifts in the makeup of the House of Representatives. Texas is set to gain two seats. Meanwhile, North Carolina, Florida, Colorado, Oregon and Montana will each gain one congressional seat. New York, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Ohio, Michigan, Illinois and California will all lose one seat.
This week’s panel of experts will discuss what the census data will mean for Utah and how the government ensures they have counted everyone once, only once and in the right place. The panelists include Patricia Jones, member of Utah’s Independent Redistricting Commission and CEO of the Women’s Leadership Institute; Phil Dean, public finance senior research fellow at the Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute; and Jake Fitisemanu, West Valley City councilmember. Moderating today’s forum is Mallory Bateman, senior research analyst and state data center coordinator at the Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute.
This forum was recorded on March 29th, 2021.
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