Site Network: Prison Policy Initiative | Prisoners of the Census

The Census' prisoner miscount distorts democracy

The Census Bureau counts prisoners as if they lived voluntarily in the communities where they are incarcerated. And though most states bar prisoners from voting, the inaccurate census figures allow state lawmakers to pad district populations when drawing legislative maps. This creates prison districts with disproportionate voting power and drains political influence from the urban districts where most prisoners live.

Where did the Census Bureau count 44,326 New York City prisoners?

by Peter Wagner, February 2, 2004

NY Prisoner Migration

Data source: Importing Constituents: Prisoners and Political Clout in New York.

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