Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Fair Count @faircount.bsky.social · 1d

"The next U.S. census isn't scheduled to be taken until 2030, but the federal government says help is wanted well before then in six states for the national head count's major field test."

The 2026 Census Test includes parts of AL, AZ, CO, NC, SC and TX.

bit.ly/48eu6tr

A major census test begins recruiting workers as some warn about delays

The Census Bureau is looking for temporary workers to carry out next year's major field test of the 2030 census in six states, as the national head count's advocates raise concerns about preparations.

bit.ly

Fair Count @faircount.bsky.social · 2d

GA – The VOTER REGISTRATION DEADLINE is TODAY, Mon, OCT 6 for the Nov 4th municipal and statewide PSC election.

Register or update your registration ➡️ mvp.sos.ga.gov/s/

Reposted by Fair Count

Hansi Lo Wang (he/him) @hansilowang.bsky.social · 2d

BREAKING: The Census Bureau’s website says applications are now open for temporary “2026 Census Test” jobs in six states as some of the national head count’s advocates warn about delays in preparing for next year’s major field test of the #2030Census

A major census test begins recruiting workers as some warn about delays

The Census Bureau is looking for temporary workers to carry out next year's major field test of the 2030 census in six states, as the national head count's advocates raise concerns about preparations.

www.npr.org

2 18 55

Reposted by Fair Count

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution @ajc.com · 8d

Georgia Supreme Court sides with Gullah Geechee in Sapelo Island dispute

The Georgia Supreme Court ruled Tuesday in a case involving Gullah Geechee residents of Sapelo Island, a McIntosh County ordinance revision and a citizen referendum.

www.ajc.com

1 3 12

Fair Count @faircount.bsky.social · 8d

Despite overstepping their authority in the past, the GA State Election Board continues to push for control. In addition to squabbles over its chair's authority, the Board wants to ending no-excuse absentee voting and eliminate touchscreens.

More: www.ajc.com/politics/202...

A squabbling State Election Board struggles after Georgia Supreme Court ruling

The State Election Board is mired in squabbles and political advocacy even after the Georgia Supreme Court rebuked the board for exceeding its authority.

www.ajc.com

1

Reposted by Fair Count

Hansi Lo Wang (he/him) @hansilowang.bsky.social · 8d

2. Here's a backup link to the Commerce Department's latest "Plan for Orderly Shutdown Due to Lapse of Congressional Appropriations"
www.documentcloud.org/documents/26...

Department of Commerce Plan for Orderly Shutdown Due to Lapse of Congressional Appropriations (Sept. 29, 2025)

www.documentcloud.org

3 8

Reposted by Fair Count

Hansi Lo Wang (he/him) @hansilowang.bsky.social · 8d

NEW: In case of a federal government shutdown, the Census Bureau will stop work on economic indicators, the American Community Survey, disaster assistance & recovery data & most #2030Census planning. "2026 Census Test" work would continue until funds are "exhausted"
www.commerce.gov/sites/defaul...

In the event of a lapse in appropriations, the U.S. Census Bureau anticipates that most activities will cease. The agency will have access to balances which will allow minimally necessary operations and activities to ensure the safety and security of data, IT resources, and property. Prior to any lapse in appropriations, an assessment will be performed to determine the level of budget authority available to continue operations. Administrative and information technology infrastructure activities supporting these programs will continue, funded by overheads collected against the funding sources above. The Census Bureau will use carryover balances to continue the activities needed to remain on a critical readiness path for a fully scoped, and on-time 2026 Census Test, a mission critical priority for ensuring 2030 Census operational viability as described throughout this section.
If the lapse in appropriations continues for a significant length of time and these funds are exhausted, then most employees working on these activities will be furloughed, consistent with the Contingency Plan described below.
The activities that the Census Bureau will not continue include the following:
1. Economic Indicators: U.S. monthly economic indicators would not be available.
2. Disaster Assistance and Recovery: The Census Bureau would be unable to provide updated data to jurisdictions impacted by natural disasters.
3. 2030 Census Planning (Non-Test Activities): All other activities necessary to plan, manage, and prepare for the 2030 Census not directly tied to the 2026 Census Test, including
Geographic Support and Frames, will be paused.
4. American Community Survey: Data Collection for the ACS will be discontinued.

1 6 18

Reposted by Fair Count

Hansi Lo Wang (he/him) @hansilowang.bsky.social · 12d

BREAKING: Office of Management and Budget extends deadline for federal surveys & forms to comply with revised government standards on racial & ethnic data approved during Biden admin, including new “Middle Eastern or North African” & "Hispanic or Latino” checkboxes
spd15revision.gov/content/spd1...

OMB Announcing Timeline Extensions for SPD 15 Implementation
September 26, 2025

The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) is extending timelines in its Statistical Policy Directive No. 15: Standards for Maintaining, Collecting, and Presenting Federal Data on Race and Ethnicity.

The provisions of OMB’s most recent updates to its race and ethnicity data standards continue to be in effect. However, through this announcement, OMB is changing two particular dates.

The standards require the Chief Financial Officers Act Agencies and the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission to submit to OMB an Action Plan on Race and Ethnicity Data by September 28, 2025. OMB is extending this deadline to March 28, 2026. The standards require Federal information collections that collect race and ethnicity data to be made consistent with the updated standards as soon as possible, but not later than March 28, 2029. OMB is extending this deadline to September 28, 2029.

1 6 12

Fair Count @faircount.bsky.social · 13d

Historically, "…the [DOJ] has been at the forefront of efforts to use Section 2 of the VRA to protect minority voting rights, most frequently in the redistricting process." Now it seeks to "make [the Voting Rights Act] all but useless in stopping racially motivated gerrymanders."

[+] bit.ly/3W9kWXK

DOJ Urges SCOTUS to End Key VRA Protection for Minority Voters

Read more here.

bit.ly

2

Reposted by Fair Count

Hansi Lo Wang (he/him) @hansilowang.bsky.social · 14d

NEW: Justice Department argues in friend-of-the-court brief to US Supreme Court that Voting Rights Act's Section 2 protections against racial discrimination in redistricting are no longer constitutional as high court prepares to hear oral arguments again in Louisiana congressional redistricting case

www.supremecourt.gov

2 21 22

Fair Count @faircount.bsky.social · 15d

After 50+ years of steady growth, the U.S. immigrant population is now declining. While hitting a record 53.3M in Jan 2025, by June, more have left or been deported than arrived, shrinking the US labor force by over a million people.

More: bit.ly/3I1hYRO

1.2 million immigrants are gone from the US labor force under Trump, preliminary data shows

As parades and other events celebrating the contributions of workers in the U.S. are being held for the Labor Day holiday, experts say President Donald Trump’s stepped-up immigration policies are impa...

bit.ly

1 2

Reposted by Fair Count

Hansi Lo Wang (he/him) @hansilowang.bsky.social · 16d

NEW: The newly formed Independent Census Scientific Advisory Committee calls for the Census Bureau to develop a communication plan for providing regular public updates about privacy protections for #2030Census data, among other recommendations
static1.squarespace.com/static/6890d...

static1.squarespace.com

8 15

Reposted by Fair Count

Brennan Center @brennancenter.org · 15d

A recent report from Louisiana shows us what we already know: noncitizens voting is not a problem. Election safeguards work.

2 45 130

Reposted by Fair Count

Georgia Interfaith Power & Light (GIPL) @georgiaipl.bsky.social · Sep 5

Let's partner for power! 🗳️

Ahead of the Nov. 4 GA Public Service Commission (PSC) election, join GIPL, @faircount.bsky.social, @splcenter.org, & @ncnwhq.bsky.social on Sept. 30 (6–7 p.m.) for a virtual voter empowerment session.

Register: gipl.org/events/partn...

#GOTV #YouVoteMatters

Partnering for Power: Preparing for the 2025 Elections + Beyond — Georgia Interfaith Power and Light

Many Georgia voters don't understand the powerful role of the statewide Public Service Commission (PSC), and that lack of information leads to low voter turnout. Georgia Interfaith Power and Light (G...

gipl.org

1 1

Fair Count @faircount.bsky.social · 19d

Register to vote now at WhenWeAllVote.org, because Election Day is in less than 50 days.

From the economy and jobs to healthcare and fighting racism, let’s use our power to make sure NOTHING is decided about us without us.

#NationalBlackVoterDay #BETWeVote 🗳✊🏾

Fair Count @faircount.bsky.social · 21d

The unemployment rate for Black Americans hit 7.5% in August, "more than double the rate seen for white workers." This is the worst level it's been since the pandemic, some economists seeing this as a sign of worse things to come for the US economy.

[+] yhoo.it/4n6vhQ2

The Black unemployment rate is at its highest since 2021. Here's why that's a bad sign for the economy.

The unemployment rate for Black Americans hit 7.5% in August. Federal workforce reductions and tariff-fueled economic uncertainty may be contributing.

yhoo.it

3 2

Reposted by Fair Count

Hansi Lo Wang (he/him) @hansilowang.bsky.social · 21d

BREAKING: The South Carolina Supreme Court has denied a request to strike down the state's congressional district map that was approved by its GOP-controlled state legislature, finding that claims of partisan gerrymandering are not reviewable by South Carolina courts
www.sccourts.org/media/opinio...

There are no constitutional provisions or statutes that pertain to, prohibit, or limit partisan gerrymandering in the congressional redistricting process in South Carolina. There are no judicially discernible or manageable standards or satisfactory criteria to adjudicate partisan gerrymandering claims. Therefore, we hold partisan gerrymandering claims present a nonjusticiable political question in South Carolina, and we deny the League's claim for relief.
RELIEF DENIED.
FEW and VERDIN, JJ., concur. KITTREDGE, C.J., concurring in a separate opinion, in which HILL, J., concurs.

14 45 110

Fair Count @faircount.bsky.social · Sep 4

🪡🪡🪡

Protect Democracy @protectdemocracy.org · Sep 4

If we're committed to building a successful anti-authoritarian coalition, there’s a lot we all can learn from the history of labor movements, here and abroad.

Below are 4 lessons ⬇️

Fair Count @faircount.bsky.social · Sep 4

Why does it matter who’s counted in the Census? How would making changes to it influence the life of every person living in the US?

The count is a battle over visibility, resources, and power — the stakes are higher than you might think.

Listen 🎧: n.pr/4lthiT2

The Push To Exclude Noncitizens From The 2030 Census : 1A

The U.S. undertakes the census every 10 years. Hundreds of thousands of Census workers set out to count everyone living in the U.S., regardless of their citizenship status.That data is used to realloc...

n.pr

Reposted by Fair Count

kareemcrayton.bsky.social @kareemcrayton.bsky.social · Sep 3

Join me along with the a power packed panel of my expert colleagues online this Thursday!: www.brennancenter.org/events/next-...

The Next Phase of the Fight

Experts discuss this summer’s biggest stories, including gerrymandering, presidential abuses of power, and elections.

www.brennancenter.org

2 5

Reposted by Fair Count

Hansi Lo Wang (he/him) @hansilowang.bsky.social · Sep 2

NEW: Judge rejects bid by Georgia’s Houston County to throw out claim that electing county commissioners as at-large representatives of one voting district dilutes Black voters' collective power. Two Black voters stepped in to carry on this voting rights case after DOJ under Trump admin stepped away

Driver v Houston County - 2025-09-02 Order on Motion to Dismiss

www.documentcloud.org

1 12 32

Fair Count @faircount.bsky.social · Sep 3

Citing an "excessive" registration rate, Georgia's conservative lawmakers plan to target the state's highly successful automatic voter registration system. Their priorities also include banning no-excuse absentee voting and shortening early voting.

[+] bit.ly/4g6Q2Zo

Automatic voter registration comes under scrutiny by Georgia lawmakers

Georgia lawmakers will decide whether to roll back automatic voter registration, which has resulted in high numbers of voters but led to some criticism.

bit.ly

Fair Count @faircount.bsky.social · Aug 25

After watching data sets be altered or disappear from US government websites "an army of outside statisticians, demographers and computer scientists have joined forces to capture, preserve and share data sets, sometimes clandestinely."

Fighting for data: apnews.com/article/cens...

Why are data nerds racing to save US government statistics?

The data nerds are fighting back. After watching data sets be altered or disappear from government websites in unprecedented ways after President Donald Trump began his second term, statisticians, dem...

apnews.com

1

Fair Count @faircount.bsky.social · Aug 21

The Fulton County Board of Commissioners, failed to approve GOP nominations to the board, despite a court ruling. The Board has cited concerns about the nominees "qualifications and past actions" which include refusal to certify and voter challenges.

[+] bit.ly/3UzNGID

Fulton commissioners reject GOP election board picks, defying court order

The Fulton County Board of Commissioners defied a court order and refused to appoint two election skeptics to the county elections board on Wednesday.

bit.ly

1 2

Fair Count @faircount.bsky.social · Aug 20

A district judge ruled that "Mississippi’s state Supreme Court districts dilute Black voting rights and that the state cannot use the same maps in future elections." The three districts in violation of the federal Voting Rights Act are to be redrawn.
mississippitoday.org/2025/08/19/m...

Federal judge rules Mississippi Supreme Court districts dilute Black vote, must be redrawn - Mississippi Today

No Black person has ever been elected to the Mississippi Supreme Court without first obtaining an interim appointment from the governor, and no Black person from either of the two other districts has ...

mississippitoday.org

1 10 41