Based on a 40-year partnership spearheaded by the passage of
P.L. 94-171 in 1975, states have provided important feedback, each decade, to the U.S. Census Bureau regarding their voluntary participation in the Census Bureau’s Redistricting Data Program. State feedback is important to the design of the next decennial census Redistricting Data Program. The program is a unique collaboration between the U.S. Census Bureau and those state officials responsible for their respective state legislative redistricting. Once again, the Census Bureau, in cooperation with the National Conference of State Legislatures, sought input from those public officials in the states to build upon the 2010 Census program’s successes and to plan for changes where needed and feasible.
These state appraisals exist for the 1980, 1990, and 2000 censuses.

This report constitutes the final chapter, Phase 5, of the 2010 Census Redistricting Data Program and continues a 40-year tradition, considered one of the best collaborations between state and federal government. This report reflects the view from the states.