A question being added to the 2020 U.S. census has some people and legislators upset: Are you a citizen?

  • 2020 census to ask Americans about citizenship status
  • Federal census shows information about Americans
  • Information helps determine where funds go
  • Many think new question will underrepresent areas

Late Monday night, the U.S. Department of Commerce announced the 2020 census would ask participants whether they are a U.S. citizen.

The census collects information about Americans — not just how many citizens are in the U.S., but the number of people overall populating certain areas. This helps the government determine where to distribute funds, from infrastructure like highways, to schools to how to draw congressional districts.

Many think the question will discourage some people from participating in the census, therefore leaving certain people and areas underrepresented.

The Commerce Department defended the move by saying that between 1820 and 1950, most decennial censuses asked a question about citizenship in some form.


The Justice Department, which recommended adding the question, says a citizenship question would help enforce Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act, which prevents discrimination at the polls.

Some lawmakers are already trying to fight this.





The government takes a census every 10 years.