Despite certainty of a shrinking voice we still count in census

West Virginia is on the verge of losing one third of our voice in the U.S. House of Representatives.
The Census Bureau released its final population estimates ahead of this year’s census in a report a week ago.
Those numbers serve as a preview of the census counts, which determine everything from how congressional seats are apportioned to states to electoral votes and federal funding formulas.
Every analysis of the latest figures show that West Virginia is one of about 10 states that will lose a congressional district. Two of our neighbors — Ohio and Pennsylvania — are also expected to lose a seat in the U.S. House.
That’s not all official until the end of 2020 when the reapportionment is expected, which results in a lengthy and political process to redraw congressional maps for the 2022 elections.
In West Virginia’s case it’s not just a case of slowing population growth and skyrocketing growth in Texas, Florida and North Carolina.
Indeed, it’s an almost continuous exodus from our state for the seventh straight year with some 12,144 people leaving in 2019. In 2010, West Virginia had a population of 1,852,994. Our estimated population on July 1, 2018, was 1,805,832, a 2.5% drop, or nearly 50,000 people.
Some will say, “So what? That’s one less politician to pay.” Or of that exodus, “That just makes more room for me.”
First of all, that politician’s seat only goes somewhere else. As for that increased elbow room it is that — but it’s void of infrastructure and opportunity.
And if anyone thinks this means lower federal taxes they‘ would be wrong. Just like that congressional seat, the tax brackets stay the same, but the revenues simply go elsewhere.
With West Virginia currently receiving as much as $2,755 per person in federal funding the census determines tax dollars for everything from health care and education to transportation. This data also affects how nonprofits and charities receive funding when applying for federal grants and private funding.
In short, there’s no scenario whereby a reduction in seats in Congress or reducing our claims to federal budget priorities will benefit our state.
In 2010, West Virginia had a population of 1,852,994. The U.S. Census Bureau yearly population estimate in West Virginia in July 2018, was 1,805,832, a 2.5% drop, or nearly 50,000 people.
By now that population is in the 1.78 million range and there’s no sign it’s going to reverse its decline soon.
Does all this spell more gloom and doom for West Virginia? Maybe not, but it doesn’t help.
The stakes are high for getting an accurate count of West Virginians. The consequences for not doing so can only hurt.
The first questionnaires will be sent out in mid-March and this will be the first year households can respond online
We call on everyone to participate. Despite our shrinking voice it’s up to all of us to still count.