The 2020 Census could undercount up to 32,000 minorities in Oregon, according to the nonpartisan think tank, Urban Institute. Latino and Hispanic populations are most at risk, fueling criticisms over the addition of a citizenship question.
After documents surfaced alleging the addition was a tactic to gerrymander districts created by a now deceased Republican consultant named Dr. Thomas Hofeller, Oregon Senator Ron Wyden wants an investigation.
“The fact that a republican political operative clearly worked to undermine the purpose of the census with the explicit goal of undercounting communities of color to the benefit of his political party is simply outrageous, ” Senator Wyden said.
Wyden and 13 other Democratic U.S. Senators want an official review on suspicion that Republicans knew the census would undercount minorities. The Trump Administration claims the question enforces the Voting Rights Act.
The U.S. Supreme Court is weighing a decision on the constitutionality of the citizenship question. The ruling is expected this month.
Copyright 2019 KLCC
