[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 131 (Tuesday, July 9, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 56287-56288]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-14962]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Census Bureau

[Docket Number: 240613-0160]
X-RIN 0607-XC076


Establishment of the 2030 Census Redistricting Data Program

AGENCY: Census Bureau, Department of Commerce

ACTION: Notice of program.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: This notice announces and seeks comments on the establishment 
of the 2030 Census Redistricting Data program. Required by law, the 
program provides the States the opportunity to specify the geographic 
areas for which they wish to receive 2030 Census population totals for 
the purpose of reapportionment and redistricting.

DATES: Comments on this notice are due by August 8, 2024. The program 
is expected to begin with the solicitation of official liaisons from 
the states in early 2025.

ADDRESSES: Comments may be submitted by either of the following 
methods:
     Electronic submission: Submit electronic public comments 
via the Federal eRulemaking Portal.
    1. Go to www.regulations.gov and enter Docket Number USBC-2024-0016 
in the search field.
    2. Click the ``Comment Now!'' icon and complete the required 
fields.
    3. Enter or attach your comments.
     By email: Comments in electronic form may also be sent to 
[email protected].
    All comments responding to this document will be a matter of public 
record. Relevant comments will generally be available on the Federal 
eRulemaking Portal at https://www.Regulations.gov.
    The Census Bureau will not accept comments accompanied by a request 
that part or all of the material be treated confidentially for any 
reason. Therefore, do not submit confidential business information or 
otherwise sensitive, protected, or personal information, such as 
account numbers, Social Security numbers, or names of other 
individuals.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: James Whitehorne--Chief, Redistricting 
and Voting Rights Data Office, c/o Census ADDC Mailbox, U.S. Census 
Bureau, 4600 Silver Hill Road, Washington, DC 20233 or by email to 
[email protected].

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., census tabulation blocks, voting districts) for which they 
wish to receive decennial census population counts for the purpose of 
reapportionment or redistricting. The same statute requires the 
Secretary to furnish the state officials or their designees with 
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 
tabulation block) and voting districts (if provided by the state) by 
April 1 of the year following the decennial census. The Secretary has 
delegated these responsibilities to the Director of the Census Bureau 
(Director).
    In accordance with the provisions of 13 U.S.C. 141(c), via this 
notice the Director announces the establishment of the 2030 Census 
Redistricting Data Program (RDP). In early 2025, the Census Bureau 
plans to invite the executive officer and the officers or public bodies 
having initial responsibility for legislative reapportionment and 
redistricting in each state to agree on and jointly identify a non-
partisan liaison(s) who will work directly with the Census Bureau on 
the RDP. Once these liaisons are established, the Census Bureau will 
communicate to each state through their non-partisan liaison(s) the 
specific requirements of their participation.
    Under 13 U.S.C. 141(c), RDP participation is voluntary. However, if 
states choose not to participate, the Census Bureau cannot ensure that 
the 2030 Census tabulation geography will support the redistricting 
needs of those states. The Census Bureau is proposing to structure the 
2030 RDP into five phases, similar to how the program was structured 
for the 2020 Census.

Phase 1: Block Boundary Suggestion Project (BBSP)

    In late 2025, the Census Bureau plans to formally announce the 
commencement of Phase 1: Block Boundary Suggestion Project (BBSP) 
through a Federal Register notice. The purpose of the BBSP is to afford 
states the opportunity to identify non-standard features often used as 
electoral boundaries (such as power lines, property lines, or streams) 
that could be used in conjunction with more traditional features (such 
as street centerlines) as census tabulation block

[[Page 56288]]

boundaries. The state liaison can identify and suggest that some of 
these features be used as 2030 census tabulation block boundaries, 
resulting in more meaningful tabulation block data for the state. The 
liaison may work with local officials, including county election 
officers and others, to ensure local geography is represented in the 
2030 census tabulation block inventory. In addition, the liaison may 
make suggestions for features not desirable as census tabulation block 
boundaries.
    Beginning in early 2026, the Census Bureau plans to provide to 
states that choose to participate in Phase 1 the guidelines and 
training for providing their suggestions for the 2030 census tabulation 
block boundaries as well as their suggestions for exclusion of line 
segments for consideration in the final 2030 census tabulation block 
boundary inventory. States will also have the opportunity to review 
legal boundaries such as incorporated place, American Indian area, and 
county boundaries, in coordination with the annual Boundary and 
Annexation Survey (BAS) program. Incorporating the opportunity for 
states to review legal boundaries was successfully implemented for the 
first time in the 2020 RDP and proved valuable as these legal 
boundaries also become census tabulation block boundaries. The Census 
Bureau plans to process all tabulation block boundary suggestions and 
provide state liaisons the opportunity to verify them in early 2027.

Phase 2: Voting District Project (VTDP)

    In late 2027, the Census Bureau plans to formally announce the 
commencement of Phase 2: Voting District Project (VTDP) through a 
Federal Register notice. The VTDP will provide the state liaisons the 
opportunity to submit and verify their voting districts (a generic term 
used to represent areas that administer elections such as precincts, 
election districts, and wards) to the Census Bureau for inclusion in 
the 2030 Census Redistricting Data (Pub. L. 94-171) products (tabulated 
data and geographic products).
    Beginning in early 2028, the Census Bureau plans to begin the 
initial voting district update cycle, providing to states that choose 
to participate guidelines and training for submitting their voting 
district boundaries. The Census Bureau will process the updates and 
provide states two opportunities to verify the updates were processed 
correctly. The first verification cycle is planned for early 2029. The 
second verification cycle, planned for early 2030, will only be 
available to states that participated in the initial update cycle or 
the first verification cycle. State liaisons will also continue to have 
the opportunity to make census tabulation block boundary suggestions 
and to review legal boundaries such as incorporated place, American 
Indian area, and county boundaries in coordination with the annual BAS 
during the initial update cycle and the first verification cycle.

Phase 3: Delivery of the 2030 Census Redistricting Data

    In accordance with 13 U.S.C. 141(c), the Director will furnish the 
Governor, state legislative leaders of both the majority and minority 
parties, and any other sitting ``officers or public bodies having 
initial responsibility for the legislative apportionment or districting 
of each state'' with 2030 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 tabulation block) regardless of 
whether or not a state participates in Phases 1 or 2. The Director will 
also provide 2030 Census population counts for voting districts to any 
state that participated in Phase 2. Delivery is expected to occur prior 
to or alongside the public release of the 2030 Census Redistricting 
Data (Pub. L. 94-171) Summary File, no later than April 1, 2031.

Phase 4: Collection of Post-2030 Census Congressional and State 
Legislative District Plans

    Beginning in 2031, the Census Bureau plans to solicit from each 
state the newly drawn legislative and congressional district plans 
based on the 2030 census results and compile population, housing and 
other data for those new districts. This effort is expected to occur 
every two years in advance of the 2040 Census in order to update these 
district boundaries with new or changed plans. A verification phase is 
planned to occur with each two-year update cycle.

Phase 5: Review of the 2030 Census Redistricting Data Program and 
Recommendations for the 2040 Census Redistricting Data Program

    As the final phase of the 2030 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 and the Director 
in planning the 2040 Census Redistricting Data Program.
    Please address questions concerning any aspect of the 2030 RDP to 
the person identified in the contact section of this notice.
    Robert L. Santos, Director, Census Bureau, approved the publication 
of this Notice in the Federal Register.

    Dated: July 2, 2024.
Shannon Wink,
Program Analyst, Policy Coordination Office, U.S. Census Bureau.
[FR Doc. 2024-14962 Filed 7-8-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-07-P