New Interactive Map from the Census Bureau

Today, the U.S. Census Bureau released Census Explorer, a new interactive map that gives users easier access to neighborhood-level statistics.

The map uses the most current statistics, updated from the 2008-2012 American Community Survey. Topics currently available in Census Explorer include:

• Total population,
• Percent 65 and older,
• Foreign-born population percentage,
• Percent of the population with a high school degree or higher,
• Percent with a bachelor's degree or higher,
• Labor force participation rate,
• Home ownership rate, and
• Median household income.

In addition to these characteristics, more than 40 American Community Survey social, economic and housing topics are now available through the Census Bureau's data tool, American Factfinder. This includes the first release of local statistics for disability, marital history, VA service-connected disability, health insurance coverage, and year of naturalization. Don't wait, start exploring!

Census Releases New Data on 2012 Election

On Wednesday, the Census Bureau released The Diversifying Electorate--Voting Rates by Race and Hispanic Origin in 2012 (and Other Recent Elections). The report draws on data from the November 2012 Current Population Survey Voting and Registration Supplement.

Among other things, it confirms that for the first time ever, black voters turned out at a higher rate than white voters: 66.2% of eligible black voters participated, compared to 64.1% of non-Hispanic white voters. Increased participation among black voters has been a trend since 1996, with participation rates increasing 13 percentage points since then. The data also shows that:

• Voting rates increase with age. In 2012, the percentage of eligible adults who voted ranged from 41.2% for 18- to 24-year-olds, to a high of 71.9% for those 65 and older. 
• Black and non-Hispanic white voters continue to lead in turnout. In 2012, both Hispanic and Asian voters voted at a rate of about 48%, trailing black and non-Hispanic white turnout. 
• Mobility matters. 11.7% of voters who lived at their current residence for less than one year cited "registration problems" as a reason for not voting--compared to 5.5% of all voters. 
• The "gender gap" in voting persists. In every presidential election since 1996, women have voted at higher rates than men. In 2012, the spread was about 4 percentage points, and widest among black voters at 9 percentage points. 

Read the full report to learn more about America's diversifying electorate.

Black History Month Voting Facts

As Black History Month comes to a close, we wanted to share some voting statistics from the U.S. Census Bureau.

11.1 million black voters cast a ballot in the 2010 congressional election, making up 12% of the electorate--a slight increase from 11 percent of the total electorate in 2006.
 
55% of eligible black youth ages 18 to 24 turned out in the 2008 presidential election, an 8 percentage point increase from 2004, and the highest turnout rate among all 18- to 24-year-olds.

65% of black citizens turned out in the 2008 presidential election, up about 5 percentage points from 2004.

Black participation rates are on the rise, but we can do even better in 2012. Make sure your organization has a plan for talking to your clients and constituents about voting in this year's elections. Get started today!

Statistics come from the U.S. Census Bureau, Voting and Registration in the Election of 2008 and Voting and Registration in the Election of 2010.

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2011 Webinar Rewind

In 2011 we hosted an array of expert presenters on a variety of voter engagement and participation topics. Before we announce our 2012 webinar series schedule, we wanted to review some of last year's top webinars:

• We shared groundbreaking new research from the 2010 election that documented the impact nonprofits have when they talk to their clients and constituents about voting.
• MassVOTE's Co-Director, Cheryl Crawford, joined us to discuss techniques for organizing an effective candidate forum, how to stay nonpartisan throughout the process, and tools to help every step of the way. 
• Abby Levine from the Alliance for Justice and Ben Dudley from Engage Maine talked about how nonprofits can take a stand on ballot measures. 
• We reviewed the unprecedented nationwide effort to pass legislation that creates voter registration barriers and limits access to the polls. Megan Donovan from the Fair Elections Legal Network talked about how nonprofits can help defend their clients' right to vote. 
• We asked nonprofits to start thinking about their 2012 voter engagement plan, including when, where, and how to incorporate activities into their ongoing work. Don't worry if you missed it, we're doing an encore this month!

Our full webinar library is available on our YouTube channel. Subscribe today and you'll be notified whenever we post new content. We'll be announcing our full 2012 webinar lineup soon, so stay tuned!

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Redistricting Continues in 19 States

As of last week, nineteen states are still without final districts. The redistricting process went smoothly and quickly in some states, but in others, maps are already in courts and others will be soon.

In Arizona, Governor Jan Brewer led a(n initially) successful charge to oust the chairwoman of the state’s independent commission. However, the Arizona Supreme Court overturned her decision, leaving some to speculate that the governor could still have her removed at a future date. Nevertheless, once finalized, many expect Arizona's maps to be challenged in court.

Based on the 2010 Census figures, Texas gained four additional representatives in the House. However, last week a federal court rejected the legislature's newly drawn lines, claiming they did not appropriately reflect Latino populations. This is nothing new, as Texas' maps have been challenged in court every decade for the past half century.

With presidential primaries beginning in early January, time is running out for states to finalize districts ahead of 2012.

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New Census Data on 2010 Election

The Census Bureau has released data on "Voting and Registration in the Election of November 2010" that compares voting and registration patterns by demographic, social, and geographic characteristics. This release is the latest in a series of national reports that is one of the most frequently cited sources for registration and turnout data.

Last year, Hispanics comprised 7% of voters, the highest percentage ever for a non-presidential election. The percentage of non-Hispanic white voters was 77.5%, down from 80.4% in 2006. Tiffany Julian of the Census Bureau's Education and Social Stratification Branch noted that "The electorate looks much different than when we first started collecting these data 37 years ago," yet turnout and registration rates still do not mirror the nation's growing diversity.

There are persistent voting gaps for many of the populations that nonprofits serve. In addition to racial and ethnic gaps, economic gaps remain stark: People in families who earned $100,000 or more were more than twice as likely to vote as those who lived with families earning less than $20,000. Homeowners were more likely to both register and vote than renters.

Based on this data, Nonprofit VOTE will be issuing a report next month that details registration and turnout gaps, along with other relevant information for the nonprofit community. In the meantime, check out the full data files from the Census Bureau.

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Combating Prison-Based Gerrymandering

Although some states have already finished the redistricting process, many are still hard at work.

Earlier this year, the Prison Policy Initiative released a new set of factsheets on prison-based gerrymandering. The factsheets highlight how the practice is disenfranchising minority voters nationwide, particularly African-Americans, Latinos, and American Indians.

Prison-based gerrymandering starts with where the Census counts prison populations. While some states require prisoners to be counted at their last know address, others are counted at their prison address, bolstering population in a district where they are (usually) not eligible to vote. Thus, the majority of a district's "residents" can be locked away, giving extra weight to the votes of those living there by choice, while simultaneously reducing the population and influence of prisoners' home districts.

Luckily, some states are beginning to tackle this problem. After voting to end the practice, the New York state legislature has stepped up to enforce the decision. The term "prison-based gerrymandering" was added to the state's 2011 redistricting glossary, one of the state Senate's stated goals is to end prison-based gerrymandering, and special consideration was given to how prisoners would be counted at their "homes of record."

Prison-based gerrymandering is also being addressed on a smaller scale. Earlier this year LaSalle Parish in Louisiana redistricted their local government and School Board, but only after deducting the number of prisoners in the parish's two prisons. LaSalle is one of over 100 local governments across the country that proactively address the issue of prison-based gerrymandering.

Is prison-based gerrymandering a problem in your community?

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Nonprofits Helped Make the 2010 Census Possible

We've had a lot to say about the Census recently, and before we dial it back there's one more thing Nonprofit VOTE has to get off its chest--thank you! We want to recognize nonprofits in all 50 states who worked on the Census and our Nonprofits Count! 2010 campaign.

You made an incredible difference by reaching hard-to-count populations. All manner of nonprofits leveraged their reach and trust to encourage Census response, and many served as official Questionnaire Assistance Centers and Be Counted sites.

Over 24,350 local nonprofits used Nonprofit VOTE resources to promote the Census in their communities. Our Nonprofits Count! 2010 campaign trained over 2,300 local nonprofits on how to promote Census participation, distributed more than 6,300 toolkits, and provided resources to Census outreach programs in 18 states and through 25 national nonprofit partners' networks. Together, we helped ensure that our clients and communities were counted!

So give yourself a pat on the back and relax for, oh let's say, eight or nine years. After all, we want to make sure you're well rested and able to do it again in 2020! And if you're looking for a project to tide you over, try your hand at nonpartisan voter engagement!

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The Census Bureau Looks Ahead

The year 2010 may be over, but the Census Bureau is still hard at work compiling data and reports for states and government offices. Nevertheless, they're also looking forward to the next decennial challenge--the 2020 Census.

Although the 2010 Census was conducted using a 10-question paper form, this could likely change in 2020 as Census Director Robert Groves said, "We've committed to the 2020 Census having Internet options." While embracing innovation, the Bureau is not committing to any particular technology yet, noting how quickly it can change. Still, iCensus2020 has already imagined what it could look like on today’s iPhone.

The Census Bureau has begun testing web-based questionnaires for the monthly American Community Survey. Moving online would not be groundbreaking, considering countries such as Canada, Switzerland, Australia, Norway, Singapore, and Brazil already collect census data online. (In fact, about 20 percent of respondents used the Internet in Canada's last census.) But it is an important factor in counting more people and reaching them more effectively, all with the potential to save money in the process.

Learn more about what the Census has in store in Groves' prepared statement for the Senate Subcommittee on Federal Financial Management, Government Information, Federal Services and International Security.

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Access Yesterday's Census Webinar

Whether or not you were able to join us for yesterday's webinar "Power in Numbers: Putting 2010 Census Data to Use," you can still access it online!

You can download both the PowerPoint presentation and the audio portion (in MP3 format) or watch the full presentation online.

If you have questions for any of our presenters, feel free to contact them directly.

Terri Ann Lowenthal
Consultant Specializing in Census and Federal Statistics
TerriAnn2K@aol.com

Todd Clausen
Data Center Coordinator
Neighborhood Data Center Program, Nonprofit Center of Milwaukee
(414) 344-3933 x140
tclausen@nonprofitcentermilwaukee.org

Lindsey Hodel
Director of Training and Partnerships
Nonprofit VOTE
(303) 910-5700
lhodel@nonprofitvote.org

Here are some of the 2010 Census resources discussed during the webinar:

• U.S. Census Products at a Glance (PDF)
• Apportionment Data Press Release
• Redistricting Data Summary File
• Redistricting Data Local Results
• Redistricting Data in the Raw Form via FTP
  

The Census Bureau has also produced two briefs:

• Population Distribution & Change
• Race & Hispanic Origin
  

To access Census, American Community Survey, and other types of data, visit the Census Bureau's American Fact Finder and the New American Fact Finder (still in beta). Learn how in a tutorial on using the Fact Finder.

Other interesting resources include the Current Population Survey's Voting and Registration Report, as well as great visual tools such as the 2010 Census Data Widget and the New York Times' Mapping America Project.

To find even more information, check out the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) and the National Neighborhood Indicators Partnership.

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Upcoming Webinar on Census Data

Register now for Thursday's webinar!

Power in Numbers: Putting 2010 Census Data to Use
Thursday, April 7th at 2:00pm Eastern
If you work for a nonprofit, chances are you've come across or used Census data. Learn more about how you can access and use this powerful data. Whether you're an expert at using Census data, an intermediate, or brand new, this webinar will give you practical tips and takeaways for finding, using, and applying Census information to your organization's mission, programs, and fundraising.

Featured Presenters: Terri Ann Lowenthal is an independent legislative and policy consultant specializing in the census and federal statistics. She is a leading national expert on the Census, the Census Project 2010, and other nonprofit sector initiatives. Todd Clausen is the Data Center Coordinator for the Nonprofit Center of Milwaukee and trains nonprofits in using Census and other data to build capacity and promote community-based decision-making.

Hope you can join us!

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Mandering Madness

Unless you're one of a select few, your tournament bracket is probably busted. Although March is almost over, (Gerry)Mandering Madness has only just begun!

Last week the Census delivered the final state-level files that are used for redistricting. So what's next for your state?

In Iowa, where redistricting has traditionally been a low-key affair, the loss of a congressional seat has politicians and constituents fretting about the future of their districts. Nevertheless, Iowa's redistricting process is fairly straightforward and is determined by a computer and three staff. So for now, all anyone can do is wait.

If only it were that simple in other states. Instead many will watch politicians and political parties fight (and bargain) for territory. In others, they'll see commissions grapple with complex issues as they draw new lines.

One such state is California, where the brand new Citizens Redistricting Commission is hard at work. The Commission was spawned from a 2008 ballot initiative and its authority was expanded with the passage of another ballot question in 2010. Now, 14 people (and some recently hired staff) are responsible for redrawing the boundaries.

On the other hand, redistricting won't prove problematic for states like Delaware and North Dakota which have only one representative, and so the state itself is one district.

Learn more about redistricting by watching our webinar on what nonprofits should know about redistricting or visit our redistricting resources page.

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The Latest from the U.S. Census

Yesterday the Census Bureau delivered the last of the state-level files from the 2010 Census. That means every state is now armed and ready for redistricting, and many are already knee-deep in it. In addition to more redistricting data, we learned a few other things about the nation's population.

For example, the U.S. mean center of population on April 1, 2010 was Plato, Missouri (37.517534 N, 92.173096 W, to be exact). Wondering what the mean center of population is? The Census Bureau's Twitter account described it as the "Place where flat, weightless, rigid map of US would balance perfectly if all residents were of identical weight."

The new numbers also show that one in six Americans are Hispanic, and Hispanics accounted for more than half the nation's growth (56%) between 2000 and 2010. Like Hispanics, Asians also experienced double-digit increases, and now account for 5% of the nation's residents. African Americans account for 12% of the population, as their numbers remained stable. Meanwhile, non-Hispanic whites diminished as a proportion of the population and are now at 64%.

Many groups are already using the data to point to new trends, such as the rise in the percentage of the nation's black population living in the South. The New York Times reported that it hit its highest point in half a century, attributing the gains to younger and more educated black residents moving out of declining cities in the Northeast and Midwest in search of better opportunities.

Stay tuned, because there's plenty more to come! And if you want to learn more about how your nonprofit can access and use Census data, sign up for our webinar "Power in Numbers: Putting 2010 Census Data to Use."

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Nonprofit VOTE Webinar Series Returns in March!

The dates are set for our first two webinars of 2011! Please join us for:

Getting a Seat at the Table: What Nonprofits Should Know About Redistricting
Wednesday, March 16th at 2:00pm Eastern
Redistricting is right around the corner and critical decisions will be made that can affect our communities, our missions, and our funding for the next decade. Tune in to learn the basics and find out how your nonprofit can get involved.

Featured Presenter: Justin Levitt is an Associate Professor of Law at Loyola Law School and author of "The Citizen's Guide to Redistricting."

RSVP Now!


Power in Numbers: Putting 2010 Census Data to Use
Thursday, April 7th at 2:00pm Eastern
If you work for a nonprofit, chances are you've come across or used Census data. Learn more about how you can access and use this powerful data. Whether you're an expert at using Census data, an intermediate, or brand new, this webinar will give you practical tips and takeaways for finding, using, and applying Census information to your organization's mission, programs, and fundraising.

Featured Presenters: Terri Ann Lowenthal is an independent legislative and policy consultant specializing in the Census and federal statistics. Terri Ann is a leading national expert on the Census and the Census Project 2010, as well as other nonprofit sector initiatives. Todd Clausen is the Data Center Coordinator at the Nonprofit Center of Milwaukee and trains nonprofits in using Census and other data to build capacity and promote community-based decision-making.

RSVP Now!

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The Census Releases New Data

...and it doesn't bring good news for New Orleans. Last week, the Census Bureau released new data showing that New Orleans experienced a population loss of 140,845 residents--a drop of 29% from 2000. In addition to losing New Orleans city residents, Louisiana also lost a congressional seat (down to six from seven).

Because of the exodus in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, the percentage of black population fell to 60.2% from 67.3%. Jacques Morial, a community organizer, thinks that "The city is more affluent, more Latin and a little whiter than it was before Katrina." Many poor residents have stayed away because fewer than a quarter of the city's 4,200 public housing units demolished by the storm have been rebuilt. "The people who've had the hardest time getting back to New Orleans are those who had the fewest resources," said Tom Piazza, author and city resident.

In addition to Louisiana, the Census Bureau also released data for Mississippi, New Jersey, and Virginia because their election cycles are among the earliest. Check out the latest Census widget below for more details.



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Census Bureau Releases Population and Apportionment Data

Earlier today, the Census Bureau announced the total U.S. population, each state's population, and the new number of representatives each state will have in the 113th Congress. This map (also at the left) shows which states gained and lost seats based on the data. Here are a few highlights from the release:

• The resident population of the U.S. on April 1, 2010 was 308,745,538, an increase of 9.7% from the 2000 resident population.
  
• The most populous state was California with 37,253,956 people.
• The least populous was Wyoming with 563,626 people.
• Texas gained the most numerically since the 2000 Census, while Nevada gained the most as a percentage of its 2000 Census count.
• Much of the population increase came in the South and West.
  

When the first Census was conducted in 1790, each member of the House represented about 34,000 residents. Since then, the House has more than quadrupled in size, with each member now representing about 21 times as many constituents.

The Census Bureau will be distributing demographic data to states in February and March, which they will then use to redistrict based on population shifts and the new apportionment numbers.

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Impending Apportionment

It's not as doom and gloom as it sounds. Apportionment is simply the process by which we determine the number of seats each state has in the House of Representatives. With the Census set to announce state populations and the new apportionment numbers next week, now is the perfect time for a quick refresher.

But first, we should thank a few (thousand) people. Apportionment wouldn't be possible without the decennial Census results, so thank you to 257,000 organizations--including countless nonprofits--that partnered with the Census Bureau to help spread the message about the importance of mailing back the Census questionnaire. As a result, 74% of households returned their Census form by mail this year, and twenty-two states met or exceeded their 2000 Census mail participation rate. The 2010 Census was the 23rd Census in our history.

As for apportionment, we'll explain how it works with this two minute animated video, produced by the Census.

The Constitution originally set the number of representatives at 65 until the first Census was conducted in 1790, when membership was increase to 105. There are currently 435 seats in the House of Representatives, and each state is guaranteed at least one representative.

We mentioned on Tuesday that people living in the 50 states as well as military and overseas federal civilian employees (and their dependents) are counted in the apportionment population. However, residents of the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Islands are excluded from the apportionment population because these areas do not have voting seats.

After the 2000 Census, Arizona, Florida, Georgia and Texas each gained two congressional seats. New York and Pennsylvania each lost two seats, but 32 states did not gain or lose a seat. To learn more about the allocation of seats over time, check out this interactive tool from the Census that displays apportionment and population data for the last 100 years.

Once the seats are apportioned, states will redraw their district lines to reflect population changes. The reapportioned Congress, based on 2010 Census data, will convene in 2013 for the 113th Congress.

For more information about apportionment, read this Census fact sheet and check back next week for the results!

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Census Numbers, Coming Next Week

The Census Bureau is required to report the first set of data from the 2010 Census to President Obama by the end of this month. However, they announced yesterday that they're going to be ready 10 days before their deadline. On Tuesday December 21, the Census Bureau will release the national and state populations, as well as the congressional apportionment totals for each state.

Each state will have two different population numbers: the first includes overseas military and federal civilian employees--which is used only for apportionment--while the second does not include those individuals and is used for all other purposes. The release of the count is greatly anticipated because the data will determine which states lose and gain seats in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Next week's release will not include characteristics data such as age, race, and gender. That information will be released on a rolling basis in February and March. After releasing the official count, the Census Bureau will still have work to do. To keep citizens informed, the Census has produced a timeline that tracks the upcoming release of demographic and redistricting data. Stay tuned for updates on the Census count and what it means for your state and your nonprofit!

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New Report: U.S. Census Bureau

"Voting and Registration in the Election of November 2006", new from the U.S. Census Bureau and based on the November 2006 Current Population Survey's Voting and Registration Supplement, reports that nearly three of every four registered voters went to the polls in 2006, and among registered voters, 71 percent reported voting, compared with 69 percent in 2002.