Census mail results could be trouble for 5 states

[BurtWorm]

Aside: The worst states in terms of Republican districts are gaining seats. The best in terms of Democratic seats are losing them. :cry:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100428/ap_on_go_ot/us_census_mail_response

By HOPE YEN, Associated Press Writer Hope Yen, Associated Press Writer – Wed Apr 28, 4:21 pm ET

WASHINGTON – Five states — New York, California, Texas, Arizona and Florida — are perilously close to losing out on congressional seats because of lackluster participation in the U.S. census.

The five were average or below average in mailing back 10-question census forms when compared to other states, trailing by as many as 5 percentage points, according to the final census mail-in tally released Wednesday.

Based on recent population trends, New York, California and Texas had been estimated to fall just above the cutoff for the last House seats when they are redistributed next year. Waiting behind them in hopes of picking up additional seats are Arizona and Florida, which are already expected to gain one seat apiece.

...

Latino residents represent a predominant share of the population growth in New York, California, Texas, Arizona and Florida, making up more than 50 percent of total growth since 2000. As a result, those states could face big losses if there isn't full cooperation when the Census Bureau on Saturday begins knocking on the doors of those who did not respond by mail.

Of the five states on the cusp, the biggest potential losers are California and New York, which could have a net loss of one and two House seats, respectively. Texas may end up gaining just three House seats instead of four.

Arturo Vargas, executive director of the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials, said he was concerned about some skittish Latinos who may refuse to answer their doors, particularly given Arizona's new immigration law.

[eleny]

1. Follow up contacts from census workers might help

The process doesn't end with the census forms that were mailed out.

[OHdem10]

2. Ascertain that Census Mail was not "lost" especially from Latino

districts.

[Berry Cool]

3. Even if the mail was lost, there will be door-to-door followup

so "losing" that mail wouldn't do any good in the long run. (Edited to add: It wouldn't do any good in terms of anyone trying to prevent them from being counted by "losing" their mail, because an attempt to count them will still be made.)