Redistricting season is kicking off in DC as the Census Bureau releases local-level data

DC is gearing up for an accelerated redistricting season as the Census Bureau prepares to release local-level 2020 data at 1 pm today (Thursday), albeit in a “legacy format.”

The data, which is being released later than usual thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic, marks the start of a redistricting process that will determine the boundaries for DC’s wards and Advisory Neighborhood Commissions ahead of the November 2022 election cycle.

The data being released Thursday is in “legacy format summary files,” which won’t mean much to the less technologically inclined, but basically means it’s a much less user-friendly format without the data tables that make it readable. The full tabulated data will be released in an easier to use format by September 30, according to the Census Bureau.

Thursday’s data will include population counts down to the tract and block level by race, Hispanic origin, and voting age, as well as housing unit data.

DC’s subcommittee on redistricting held its first hearing May 24. The subcommittee chair, at-large Councilmember Elissa Silverman, said in that hearing that this data release would ordinarily have happened in April. That means DC will have to work quickly to get ward boundaries drawn in time for the primary elections in June, and ANC boundaries drawn in time for the general election in November (ANCs are non-partisan and don’t have primaries).

The Census Bureau released state-level data in April showing that DC’s population grew 14.6% since 2010, to 689,545 people. That number was lower than previous Census estimates, but still more than double the national growth rate.

DC hasn’t, of course, grown equally in all eight wards. The District has to redraw its ward boundaries in order to make sure the population of each ward remains relatively equal. Silverman said in the May hearing that right now, some wards have 25% more residents than others. Ward 6, currently DC’s largest council district, has a seat up for reelection next year.

First, we’re obviously looking at population by 2010 Ward boundaries. By law, every ward must be between 95% and 105% of the average, so between 81,883 and 90,503. Previous Census estimates had Ward 7 well below the bottom and Ward 6 was above the top (2/n)

— Corey Holman (@coreyholman) August 11, 2021

Redistricting will involve an extensive public input process, starting with multiple council hearings in late September through October, according to Silverman’s staff. The Council will then vote on ward-level boundaries on December 7 and 21.

After ward boundaries are drawn, task forces made up of residents of each ward will convene to recommend ANC boundaries by February 2022.

Silverman said in May that after those task force recommendations are issued, the process usually takes five to seven months — but this year, DC doesn’t have that kind of time. Instead, according to the councilmember’s staff, the council will vote on ANC boundaries in June.