The 2010 Census: Count Question Resolution Program

Jennifer D. Williams
Specialist in American National Government

With the completion of most 2010 decennial census operations, as census data products continue to be disseminated, officials of some jurisdictions and the Members who represent these jurisdictions in Congress may have questions about the accuracy of the census counts for their areas. Because census data are the basis for distributing more than $400 billion a year in federal program funds to states and localities,1 local officials, especially, could want any errors in these data corrected. The Bureau of the Census’s 2010 Count Question Resolution (CQR) Program provides a means for local officials to challenge certain census figures on the basis of detailed mapping evidence that they present to the Census Bureau.

A May 26, 2010, Federal Register notice announced the Bureau’s proposal for the 2010 CQR Program.2 The final notice of the program was issued on March 8, 2011.3

On June 1, 2011, the Bureau began accepting CQR challenges to the 2010 census counts. The Bureau will accept challenges only from official representatives of state, local, or tribal area governments; will review challenges in the order it receives them; will not collect any new data to resolve CQR challenges; will not revise any 2010 census data products; and will not consider challenges received after June 1, 2013, the date the program ends.4

By November 10, 2011, 87 jurisdictions in 27 states, plus the District of Columbia, had filed a total of 90 CQR challenges to the 2010 census counts.5 After the 2000 census, the Bureau received CQR challenges from 1,180 jurisdictions out of about 39,000 nationwide. Corrections resulting from these challenges added about 2,700 people to the 281.4 million enumerated in 2000.6

This report discusses what 2010 CQR challenges the Bureau will consider, the documentation necessary for preparing and submitting a challenge, what modifications the Bureau will make if a challenge is successful, and specific changes it will not make.


Date of Report: November 21, 2011
Number of Pages: 7
Order Number: R42092
Price: $19.95

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