US Census Bureau says Rhode Island was overcounted, likely saved Congress seat | ABC6

WASHINGTON, D.C. (WLNE) — A report launched by the U.S. Census Bureau stated the Rhode Island inhabitants was overcounted within the 2020 census.

In keeping with the Publish Enumeration Survey launched Tuesday, Rhode Island was overcounted by greater than 5%, the third highest within the nation.

That 5% equates to roughly 55,000 individuals who have been overcounted. Consultants stated that the overcount allowed Rhode Island to maintain their second congressman, which pre-census launch information urged the state was in peril of dropping.

“The estimated overcount is greater than the roughly 19,000 individuals we would have liked to maintain our second congressional district,” stated John Marion, government director of Frequent Trigger RI.

Marion famous that Rhode Island won’t lose the second Congress seat based mostly on a 1999 Supreme Court docket ruling.

Information from the survey reveals a majority of the overcount was as a consequence of individuals being counted greater than as soon as. He additionally cited the state’s efforts to get everybody counted.

“Rhode Island, like many states, had a strong community-based outreach effort,” Marion stated. “Some neighborhood teams provided present playing cards to individuals who got here to occasions that inspired participation.”

The overcount within the state has some calling for accountability within the state.

“That is appalling and outrageous. The place are the great authorities teams demanding authorities accountability,” stated Rhode Island Republican Social gathering Chairwoman Sue Cienki.

“This is the reason Rhode Islanders are skeptical of elimination of ID on mail ballots. You rely 1000’s of additional residents in a census and there’s no accountability,” she added.

Former Gov. Gina Raimondo created the Rhode Island Census Depend Committee, which has co-chaired by former director of the Rhode Island Division of Well being Dr. Nicole Alexander-Scott and former Centrals Falls mayor and candidate for normal treasurer James Diossa.

ABC 6 Information reached out to a marketing campaign spokesman for Diossa however haven’t but heard again.