Protect Our Count
Protect Our Count:
Make Your Voice Heard
Public comments are due
by 11:59 p.m. on Tuesday, October 13, 2026
What’s happening
The U.S. Census Bureau has proposed changes to the 2030 Census that could affect who is counted towards congressional representation, where they are counted, how administrative records are used, and what questions are asked on the Census. These changes could affect North Carolina’s representation in Congress, billions of dollars in federal funding, and the data nonprofits rely on to serve their communities.
Not counting people doesn’t erase their needs. It only makes those needs harder to find and address.
What’s being proposed
- Fewer people counted for representation. Only U.S. citizens and green card holders would count toward congressional seats, leaving out international students, temporary workers, families with humanitarian protections, and other people who live in North Carolina.
- A new way to decide where people live. People could be counted based on where tax records place them, with no specific rules for college students, nursing home residents, or people experiencing homelessness.
- No race or ethnicity questions. These questions would be removed from the census form, making it harder to identify and address disparities.
- A possible immigration-status question. The Census Bureau is also considering adding a question about legal immigration status to the 2030 Census questionnaire, but no such question has been approved.
- Prohibit questions about sexual orientation. While past censuses have not asked about sexual orientation, the proposed rule would prevent the Census Bureau from adding these questions in the future.
Why your comment matters
This public comment period is one of the few formal opportunities to shape the 2030 Census before key decisions are made. The Census Bureau is required to consider the substance of every comment it receives, and the people who know how these changes would affect North Carolina communities are the people who live and work in them.
Tips for a strong comment
- Be specific. Personal stories and local examples can make your comment more meaningful than a form letter. Back up your experience with facts and evidence, too. Check out the Fact Sheet under Resources for information you can use to strengthen your comment.
- Tell your story. Explain how census data affects you, your organization, or your community.
- You can comment anonymously. Any information you submit will be posted publicly.
Resources
- Download the Fact Sheet → A plain-language overview of the proposed changes, what’s at stake for North Carolina, and suggested comment topics.
- Read the Proposed Rule → The official notice in the Federal Register.
- View the Comment Writing Guide → Our Comment Writing Guide walks you through what to include. It has a sample comment to show you how it all fits together, but please don’t submit it as is. The Census Bureau reviews what comments say, not how many are sent, so a comment written in your own words about your own community carries far more weight than the same letter submitted over and over.
- Review the Preliminary Regulatory Impact Analysis (PRIA) → The Bureau’s preliminary analysis of the proposed rule’s costs and benefits. It acknowledges that removing race and ethnicity questions would reduce the accuracy of data used for funding formulas, public health, and planning, and it asks the public to explain how census data is used in their communities.
Stay connected
Get updates when the final rule is released and learn how you can help ensure every North Carolinian is counted.
SIGNUP TO RECEIVE OUR MONTHLY NEWSLETTER
Media inquiries
Read the press release → Press Release 9.18.2026
Reporters, contact Tracy Mosley at tracy@nccounts.org (English Media) or
Maru Quintero at maru@nccounts.org (Spanish Media)
Last updated: September 16, 2026
