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Who Counts? Why Proposed Changes to the 2030 U.S. Census Matter So Much in Leelanau County
Every person who lives in America should count. But if the Census Bureau adopts proposed rules, some people will be counted out.
This would have a real impact on Leelanau County.
Why? Every ten years, the United States undertakes one of the most important tasks in our democracy --counting everyone living in the country. Congressional representation is based on the “whole number of persons” in each state. Census numbers shape political representation for a decade and affect funding decisions for education, health care, transportation, housing, infrastructure, and emergency services.
Leelanau's rural character and seasonal residents make it challenging to count everyone who lives here. When households are missed in the Census, our county suffers.
Three proposed changes are especially relevant to the future of Leelanau County:
“Usual residence”. Historically, the Census determines each person’s “usual residence” as the place the person “lives and sleeps most of the time,” and collects that data based on a single Census Day, April 1. The proposed changes would instead determine "usual residence" based on a period from January 3 to April 1 as "consistent with, and evidenced by, tax records." This is especially a concern when the tax return address is a PO Box or an address other than the taxpayer’s home. These changes could result in overcounting in “Snowbird States" to the disadvantage of northern states like Michigan, causing a redistribution of trillions of dollars of federal funding away from communities like Leelanau to residents’ winter communities.
We urge you to review the proposed rules for yourself and submit comments. You can find "Plain language” descriptions of the proposed changes at handsoffourcens.us. You must act soon: the comment period ends November 2, 2026.
Who is Counted. A more sweeping and constitutionally questionable change would limit the apportionment count to U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents. Leaving out any person would not just affect representation; incomplete population data would also make it harder for local officials and organizations to determine resource needs within communities so they can plan effectively. Note: The Constitution requires the Census to determine the number of all people living in the U.S. at the time of the Census; being counted does not confer a right to vote. Only U.S. citizens can vote in federal and Michigan elections.
What's Asked. The Census data historically helps paint a rich picture of our population through confidential questions asked of every household about race, national origin, and ethnicity. The proposed changes would eliminate these questions from any questionnaire used to enumerate the U.S. population. Consistent data collection helps communities understand who lives here and identify differences in access to services and opportunities.
The League of Women Voters of Leelanau County believes everyone needs to know about the proposed changes for the 2030 U.S. Census and their potential impact here. We believe any changes should be made carefully and transparently, preserving the accuracy, consistency, and usefulness of the information our communities depend on.
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