Thread by @hansilowang

BREAKING: The 2020 census redistricting data, needed to redraw voting maps, is now expected by Sept. 30, a senior Democratic aide briefed by the Census Bureau tells NPR. The 6-month delay allows for more quality checks and could throw elections into chaos.
npr.org/2021/02/12/965…

2. This delay, first reported by @miwine & @emilybazelon of The New York Times, is expected to be publicly announced by the Census Bureau soon.

The census schedule has been dogged by COVID-19 and the Trump administration's interference.

(Sorry for 1st tweet's typo: *data are)

@miwine @emilybazelon 3. A Senate bill that formally extends the legal deadlines for 2020 census results — to 9/30 for redistricting data and 4/30 for apportionment counts — will be introduced soon, say Sen. @brianschatz (D-Hawaii), plus Sen. @lisamurkowski and @SenDanSullivan, both Alaska Republicans

@miwine @emilybazelon @brianschatz @lisamurkowski @SenDanSullivan 4. NEW: The Census Bureau officially confirms in this statement that it's now planning to deliver 2020 census redistricting data by Sept. 30, six months later than the March 31 legal deadline, because of pandemic-related delays and Trump's schedule changes
census.gov/newsroom/press…

@miwine @emilybazelon @brianschatz @lisamurkowski @SenDanSullivan 5. State redistricting officials, take note: the Census Bureau says it will deliver the redistricting data for all states at once (by Sept. 30) and not "on a flow basis," as the head of the Census Bureau's redistricting office has signaled for months:

https://twitter.com/hansilowang/status/1346890396304089089?s=20

@miwine @emilybazelon @brianschatz @lisamurkowski @SenDanSullivan 6. James Whitehorne, head of the bureau's redistricting office, acknowledges "difficulties" the delay will cause states.

"Following our thorough & complete process provides the best assurance ... that these data meet the quality standards they expect"
census.gov/newsroom/blogs…

@miwine @emilybazelon @brianschatz @lisamurkowski @SenDanSullivan 7. NEW: The head of the Census Bureau's redistricting office, James Whitehorne, says that if the bureau finishes its quality reviews earlier than expected, it would release the redistricting data earlier.

But Whitehorne says: "We don't anticipate finishing much before Sept. 30."

@miwine @emilybazelon @brianschatz @lisamurkowski @SenDanSullivan 8. The chair of @DemRedistrict, former AG @EricHolder, says: "No state should use this new timeline as a pretext to hold 2022 elections on old maps because they think it would be politically advantageous or as an excuse for drawing maps in secret with no public input."