Census errors skew congressional representation favoring Democrats while penalizing Republican-leaning states

The U.S. House Committee on Oversight and Accountability spotlighted significant flaws in the 2020 Census during a recent meeting, raising alarms about its impact on congressional representation. The Census Bureau's post-enumeration survey revealed substantial errors in 14 states, with miscounts favoring Democratic-leaning states while penalizing Republican-leaning ones.

The survey indicated overcounts in states like New York, Massachusetts, and Minnesota, which benefited from additional congressional seats. Conversely, states such as Texas and Florida faced undercounts, likely affecting their representation. Notably, a mere 89-person difference in New York's population was pivotal, determining whether the state received 26 or 29 congressional seats.

These discrepancies have profound implications for electoral college votes and congressional apportionment. The committee emphasized the urgency of understanding the 2020 Census's shortcomings, especially as demographic shifts continue across the nation. The Equal Representation Act, which recently passed through the committee, was highlighted as a crucial step toward ensuring fairness in the electoral process moving forward.