Cities, Groups Aim to Stop Ohio’s Push for Early Census Data

UNDATED (AP) – A coalition of local governments and civil rights groups sued the U.S. Census Bureau last year to stop it from ending the 2020 census early out of fear it would undercount minority communities.

Now, that coalition is attempting to block Ohio from trying to force the bureau into releasing data used for drawing congressional and legislative districts earlier than planned. T

he coalition over the weekend asked a judge to let it join a lawsuit Ohio filed last month so it could oppose the state’s efforts.

Ohio became the first state to challenge the bureau’s decision to release redistricting data by Sept. 30 instead of March 31.