On Oct. 13, the Supreme Court ruled that the Trump Administration could end the census count before the Oct. 31 deadline. The main reason being so President Trump can receive the census report by Dec. 31. This is a political ploy to skewer the depiction of America and underrepresented minorities. It will alter the state’s seats in the House of Representatives and their number of votes in the electoral college for the next decade.

Every 10 years, the federal government must update its census statistics. It is an arduous process, requiring extensive research and tracking to try and assess everyone living in America. Due to COVID-19, they paused data collection in March, increasing the need to expedite the process. Currently, the bureau is expected to prepare the report within 10 weeks. It normally takes six months. 

While it may not seem like a big deal to rush the census data, it plays a crucial role in society. Beyond dictating the state’s seats in the House of Representatives and the number of votes in the electoral college, it is used to distribute billions in federal funds to local communities. These numbers must be as accurate as possible. Towns and cities benefit the most from a completed census, as it gives the government a better idea of the needs within that community. 

President Trump also wanted to exclude undocumented immigrants in the U.S. from the state’s totals, to shift congressional seat counts. However, if someone is living in America, they are contributing to society to some extent. They should be included in the census, as it gives a more accurate depiction of what the communities actually look like, and the government will be better able to assess the needs of that population.

An inaccurate census leads to the undercounting of minorities and people in urban areas. This is detrimental because minoritized and urbanized regions tend to lean more democratic and require more federal funds to improve their neighborhoods. Miscalculating the population could lead to underrepresentation of these groups in the federal government.

The government should continue collecting its census data, even if it means pushing the deadline into 2021. The census will set the basis of population data for the next 10 years—it cannot misrepresent society, otherwise, it contradicts the point of having one in the first place. 

The Trump Administration should stop rushing governmental processes and do things the right way—even if that means using the slower method. A government cannot serve its people if it does not clearly know who they are.