There seems to be a very concerted effort to get Minnesotans to complete the 2010 census forms delivered to their doors. Concerns have been expressed that if Minnesota’s population decreases too much, the state will lose Congressional representation. The Cook County
News-Herald
contacted State Demographer Tom Gillaspy and asked how concerned Minnesotans should be.
According to Gillaspy, the 2010 Census is critical for Minnesota. Apportionment, resetting the number of U.S. House of Representative seats allocated to each state as required by the Constitution, is based on the populations counted in the Census taken every 10 years. Gillaspy said that a loss of 3,000 people could mean a change to Minnesota’s eight Congressional districts.
Asked if the census had impacted Minnesota’s representation in the past, Gillaspy said yes. “We have had eight seats since 1960. We had nine before that,” he replied.
Gillaspy said the state legislature would redraw all Congressional and legislative seats, regardless of what happens to the apportionment count. The problem with a reduction to seven Congressional districts would be that the old general configuration would need to change substantially.
The Census Bureau will release the total population and number of Congressional seats on or before December 31, 2010. In about March of 2011, the legislature will receive the 2010 census results for redistricting purposes. The legislature then has about a year to complete the task. It must be done before filing deadline for office prior to the election of November 2012.
“That election will elect people to the new districts,” said Gillaspy.
For more information about Census 2010 in Minnesota, visit www. mn2010census.org on the internet or contact Ryan Dolan at 651-201-2479 or ryan.dolan@state.mn.us, or Barbara Ronningen at 651- 201-2473 or barbara.ronningen@ state.mn.us.
Leave a Reply