As you wrap up the implementation of 2020 census data, I urge you to take steps now to ensure the 2030 census uses the highest quality science-based practices to ensure future voting maps are based on high quality data.

The COVID-19 pandemic understandably caused many challenges for collecting accurate 2020 Census data. And tabulating the census data on a truncated timeline introduced shortcuts that undercounted regions of the United States hardest hit by the pandemic and those historically underrepresented in our democracy.

To mitigate these data quality concerns and improve future census efforts, I support the following recommendations from the Union of Concerned Scientists:

• Advocate for states to have flexibility to move constitutionally mandated redistricting deadlines to allow the US Census Bureau to provide the most accurate data.
• Implement the rigorous quality metrics suggested by the American Statistical Association 2020 Census Quality Indicators Task Force and JASON, an independent scientific advisory group.
• Begin leveraging administrative data sources to improve current and future census data quality.
• Utilize qualified external researchers and public input to plan future census efforts, rather than political appointees.

To ensure that all people in the United States are fairly represented in our democracy, we must act to ensure that redistricting processes are based on the highest quality data and establish better census practices for the future.