[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 135 (Tuesday, July 15, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 41258-41259]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-16532]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Bureau of the Census

[Docket Number 140626541-4541-01]


Establishment of the 2020 Census Redistricting Data Program

AGENCY: Bureau of the Census, Department of Commerce

ACTION: Notice of Program.

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SUMMARY: This notice announces and seeks comments on the establishment 
of the 2020 Census Redistricting Data Program. Required by law, the 
program provides states the opportunity to specify the small geographic 
areas for which they wish to receive 2020 decennial population totals 
for the purpose of reapportionment and redistricting.

DATES: Comments on this notice are due by September 5, 2014. The 
deadline for states to notify the Bureau of the Census (Census Bureau) 
that they wish to participate in Phase 1, the Block Boundary Suggestion 
Project, is August 1, 2015.

ADDRESSES: Please direct all written comments on this notice to the 
Director, U.S. Census Bureau, 4600 Silver Hill Road, Room 8H-002, 
Washington DC 20233.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Catherine C. McCully, Chief, Census 
Redistricting Data Office, U.S. Census Bureau, Room 8H-019, Washington 
DC 20233, telephone (301) 763-4039.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under the provisions of Title 13, Section 
141(c) of the United States Code (U.S.C.), the Secretary of Commerce 
(Secretary) is required to provide the ``officers or public bodies 
having initial responsibility for the legislative apportionment or 
districting of each state . . .'' with the opportunity to specify 
geographic areas (e.g., voting districts) for which they wish to 
receive decennial census population counts for the purpose of 
reapportionment or redistricting.
    By April 1 of the year following the decennial census, the 
Secretary is required to furnish the state officials or their designees 
with population counts for American Indian areas, counties, cities, 
census blocks, and state-specified congressional, legislative 
districts, and voting districts.
    In accordance with the provisions of 13 U.S.C. 141(c), the Director 
of the Census Bureau, on behalf of the Secretary of Commerce, announces 
the establishment of the 2020 Census Redistricting Data Program. The 
Census Bureau will issue an invitation to the officers or public bodies 
having initial responsibility for legislative reapportionment and 
redistricting this fall through the Census Redistricting Data Office 
inviting states to identify a non-partisan liaison that will work 
directly with the Census Bureau on the 2020 Census Redistricting Data 
Program. Once these liaisons are established, the Census Bureau will 
coordinate communications involving the commencement of the program.
    Since the 1990 Census, participation in both the Census 
Redistricting Data Program's Block Boundary Suggestion Project and 
Voting District Project (2020 Redistricting Data Program Phases 1 and 
2) under 13 U.S.C. is voluntary on the part of each state. However, if 
states choose not to participate in Phase 1 and Phase 2, the Census 
Bureau cannot ensure that the decennial census 2020 tabulation 
geography will support the redistricting needs of their state.

Phase 1: Block Boundary Suggestion Project (BBSP)

    Beginning in the late summer of 2014, the Census Bureau will 
correspond with the legislative leadership and executive officer of 
each state to establish a 2020 Census Redistricting Data Program 
liaison. The Census Bureau will formally announce through a subsequent 
Federal Register Notice the commencement of Phase 1, the Block Boundary 
Suggestion Project (BBSP). The purpose of the BBSP is to afford states 
the opportunity to identify non-standard features often used as 
electoral boundaries (such as a powerline or stream, rather than a 
street centerline which might divide voters into two districts) as 
census block boundaries. The BBSP option affords the state liaison the 
opportunity to provide suggestions for 2020 census tabulation block 
boundaries resulting in more meaningful block data for the state. 
Liaisons are able to work with local officials including county 
election officers and others to ensure local geography is represented 
in the 2020 tabulation block inventory. In addition, the liaison, on 
behalf of the state, will make suggestions for features not desirable 
as census tabulation blocks. By identifying undesirable features, the 
liaison may assist the Bureau in reducing the overall number of census 
tabulation blocks from the 2010 inventory. Beginning in late fall of 
2015, states that choose to participate in Phase 1 will begin receiving 
guidelines and training for providing their suggestions for the 2020 
census tabulation blocks as well as their suggestions for exclusion of 
line segments for consideration in the

[[Page 41259]]

final 2020 census tabulation block inventory. For the first time, 
states will have the opportunity to review legal limits, such as 
incorporated places, American Indian areas and county boundaries, as 
reported through the Boundary and Annexation Survey (BAS). The 
alignment of the BAS with the BBSP will facilitate the cooperation 
between state and local government. A verification phase will occur in 
early 2017.

Phase 2: Voting District Project (VTDP)

    The Census Bureau will formally announce through a subsequent 
Federal Register Notice the commencement of Phase 2, the Voting 
District Project. The VTDP will provide the state liaison, on behalf of 
the state, to submit the voting districts (a generic term used to 
represent areas that administer elections such as precincts, election 
districts, wards, etc.) to the Census Bureau for representation in the 
2020 Census P.L. 94-171 products (data and geographic products). 
Beginning in late 2017, states that choose to participate in Phase 2, 
the Voting District Project will receive on a flow basis, geographic 
products that afford them the opportunity to update the Voting 
Districts (VTDs) for inclusion in the 2020 Census tabulation geography. 
State liaisons will continue to align their effort with updates from 
state and local government officials participating in the BAS. The VTD/
BAS update and alignment will continue through spring of 2018. A 
verification phase will occur in early 2019 for states that 
participated in Phase 2.

Phase 3: Delivery of the Decennial Census 2020 Redistricting Data

    By April 1, 2021, the Director of the Census Bureau will, in 
accordance with 13 U.S.C. 141(c), furnish the Governor and state 
legislative leaders, both the majority and minority, with 2020 Census 
population counts for standard census tabulation areas (e.g., state, 
Congressional district, state legislative district, American Indian 
area, county, city, town, census tract, census block group, and census 
block) regardless of a state's participation in Phase 1 or 2. The 
Director of the Census Bureau will provide 2020 population counts for 
those states participating in Phase 2, for both the standard tabulation 
areas and for voting districts. For each state, this delivery will 
occur prior to general release and no later than April 1, 2021.

Phase 4: Collection of Post-Census 2010 Redistricting Data Plans

    Beginning in 2021, the Census Bureau will solicit from each state 
the newly drawn legislative and Congressional district plans and 
prepares appropriate data sets based on the new districts. This effort 
will occur every two years in advance of the 2030 Census in order to 
update these boundaries with new or changed plans. A verification phase 
will occur with each update.

Phase 5: Review of the 2020 Census Redistricting Data Program and 
Recommendations for the 2030 Redistricting Data Program

    As the final phase of the 2020 Census Redistricting Data Program, 
the Census Bureau will work with the states to conduct a thorough 
review of the program. The intent of this review, and the final report 
that results, is to provide guidance to the Secretary of Commerce and 
the Census Bureau Director in planning the 2030 Census Redistricting 
Data Program.
    Please address questions concerning any aspect of the 2020 Census 
Redistricting Data Program to the person identified in the contact 
section of this notice.

    Dated: July 9, 2014.
John H. Thompson,
Director, Bureau of the Census.
[FR Doc. 2014-16532 Filed 7-14-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-07-P