STATESTATS
Reapportionment Is Right Around the Comer
f United States
Alabama
Alaska
Arizona
Arkansas
Preparations for the 2010 census are in high gear with the decennial head
count just over a year away. In December, the U.S. Census Bureau released
new state-by-state population estimates for 2008 hinting at what the 2010
census is likely to show. Indications are that Southern and Western states
are continuing to grow, while population growth rates in the Midwest and
Northeast have slowed to a crawl.
How many seats eaeh state gets in the U.S. House of Representatives,
known as reapportionment. is dctennincd by entering state population totals
into a formula established by federal law. Reapportionment will take plaee
after the Bureau releases the 2010 eensus data by Dee. 31. 2010. Redistrieting. the actual drawing of new distriets using detailed population data from
the eensus, will start after the Census Bureau delivers data to states no later
than April 2011.
Looking at 2008 state population estimates. Texas looks lo be the big winner, perhaps gaining as many as three seats in the U.S. House. If the 2010
census traeks with the 2008 state estimates, this would be the first time that
California's eongressional strength has not grown sinee it gained statehood
in 1850.
The state estimates do not reflect the effect of the eurrent economic recession on population trends. It will be vital for legislators and state officials to
promote participation in the census to guarantee that eaeh state receives its
tair share of representation and federal funding.
As State Legislatures went to press, a bill was moving through Congress,
and expected to pass, that would grant the District of Columbia a voting member in the U.S. House and expand the total number of House seats to 437.
Until the new reapportionment is done in 2010, Utah will also gain an additional seat in the House under the legislation.
A SHIFTING POPULATION
California
Colorado
Connecticut
Delaware
Florida
Georgia
Hawaii
Idaho
Illinois
Indiana
JULY 1 , 2008
CURRENT
CHANGE
POPULATION
SEATS rN U.S.
USING 2008
ESTIMATE
HOUSE
POPULATION
304,059.724
4.(i61.900
686.293
6.500.180
8
2.855.390
36,756.666
4
4,939.456
3,501.252
10,003,422
15
9,685,744
1.288.198
1,523,816
12.901.563
6,376,792
Iowa
3.002.555
2.802.134
4.269.245
Louisiana
4,410,796
Maine
Maryland
1,316,456
Michigan
7
5,633,597
6.497.967
873,092
18.328.340
Minnesota
5,220.393
8
Mississippi
Missouri
2,938,618
4
5,911,605
9
1
3
3
2
13
3
29
13
I
18
5
5
19
2
6
1
9
32
3
1
11
Montana
967,440
Nebraska
1,7X3,432
Nevada
New Hampshire
2,600.167
1,315,809
New Jersey
8,682,661
New Mexico
New York
May gain seats in the U.S. House
North Carolina
North Dakota
Ohio
May lose seats
Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
Vermont
1,984,356
19.490,297
9,222.414
641,481
11,485,910
3,642,361
3.790.060
12.448,279
1.050.7SS
4,479,800
804.194
6.214,888
24.326.974
2.736,424
Washington
621,270
7,769.089
6.549,224
_West Virginia
Wisconsin
1.814,468
5.627.967
3
8
532,668
1
Virginia
Wyoming
+1
53
5
1
25
13
2
2
19
9
5
4
6
7
2
8
10
Kansas
Kentucky
Massachusetts
435
7
1
+1
+1
-1
-I
-1
-1
+1
-1
-1
-I
-1
+3
+1
9
I T m LEBISLATUHES APRIL 2009