A long delay at the Census Bureau could impact the 2020 election.
The 2020 census data won’t be available to state officials until Sept. 30, according to NPR. That data is vital to the work of the Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission, which will use it to draw new legislative and congressional district boundaries.
A spokeswoman for the Secretary of State’s Office said they’re also concerned a delay in the new maps will have a domino effect on Arizona election operations.
Candidates may not know which district they live in before an April filing deadline.
And county election workers also need that information to meet certain deadlines in state law, such as dates for mailing ballots to voters.