H.R. 7375: End Prison Gerrymandering Act

This bill, titled the "End Prison Gerrymandering Act," aims to change how incarcerated individuals are counted in the United States Census. Currently, people who are incarcerated are counted as residents of the location of their correctional facility, which can skew population data and affect the political representation of communities. Here’s a summary of the key provisions of the bill:

Residence Attribution

The bill proposes that starting with the 2030 Census, individuals who are incarcerated in any state, federal, county, or municipal correctional facility (including youth detention centers) will be counted as residents of their last usual place of residence before their incarceration. This means that when the Census is conducted, the data will reflect where these individuals lived prior to being imprisoned instead of where they are currently incarcerated.

Impact on Congressional Redistricting

Additionally, the bill establishes that for the purposes of redistricting congressional districts, the last usual place of residence of incarcerated individuals will be considered their official residence. States will be required to use this information in drawing district lines, potentially leading to more accurate representation reflecting the actual population distribution of residents in those areas.

Amendments to Existing Laws

The bill amends Section 141 of Title 13 of the United States Code, which deals with the census and how populations are organized. It also adds a new subsection to existing legislation related to congressional apportionment to clarify how the data regarding incarcerated individuals should be treated for redistricting purposes.

Overall Goals

The primary goals of the legislation are:

• To provide a more accurate representation of populations in communities affected by incarceration.
• To diminish the effects of gerrymandering that may arise from counting incarcerated individuals at their prison locations.
• To ensure that political representation reflects the demographics of local communities, enhancing fairness in the electoral process.

Implementation Timeline

The proposed changes would take effect during the next decennial census, specifically beginning with the 2030 Census. This sets a timeline for states and local jurisdictions to prepare for adjustment in how they count and represent their populations.

The legislation has been introduced in the House of Representatives, and it has been referred to relevant committees for further consideration and discussion.

Relevant Companies

None found.