The purpose of the Decennial Census is to count all people living in the United States, count them only once, and count them in the correct place. Although the US Census Bureau strives to achieve this goal, each decennial census is unique and none has been (or can be) perfect. Knowing this, the Bureau established its challenge program – the Count Question Resolution (CQR) for the 1990 census.

The CQR is an opportunity for the most senior elected officials from states, local communities and tribal areas to challenge census counts in their jurisdiction once detailed data has been provided. This dispute system has a limited scope, but offers the possibility of improving the quality of census data by correcting errors related to geographic boundaries, geocoding errors and processing errors related to data already collected in the census. (for example, by correcting duplicates) . These updates will ensure the accurate distribution of federal funds and provide improved data for policy decision-making. Additionally, when a challenge is successfully completed, the new data will be used to calculate any subsequent population estimates by the Bureau. It will not revise the distribution, re-distribution or other data products, such as the Demographic and Housing Characteristics File.

Note: The Census Bureau published a Federal Register notice on October 29, 2021. In December 2021, the Bureau informed state, local, and tribal governments about the CQR program and provided more information on how to participate in the CQR . On January 3, 2022, the Office begins accepting CQR cases.

Count the resolution of questions

Operation Count Question Resolution is an opportunity for tribal chairmen and the highest elected officials (or their representatives) of state and local governments in the United States to request a review of their official census results. While the standards for making changes are high, the CQR is the final operation by which census data updates can be made.

State, local, and tribal area elected officials can submit a request to revise official population and housing census figures, and to correct boundaries, geocoding, and certain coverage or processing issues. The Census Bureau will not collect any additional data during the challenge or review process.

The Census Bureau will be use updated counts to:

• Modify the decennial census file for use in the annual population estimates after the office census, starting with the population estimate for 2021 to be released in 2022.
• Create the errata information (list of corrected errors) made available on the Census Bureau website.

The Census Bureau habit use updated counts to:

• Make changes to state totals in Congressional distribution counts, redistricting data, or official 2020 Census data products.

The Census Bureau will accept CQR challenges between January 3, 2022 and June 30, 2023, electronically and in writing by mail or e-mail with appropriate documentation.

What can be disputed?

The CQR program guidelines are strict about errors that can be disputed. When encountered, CQR agents determine whether the challenge is an edge case, geocoding case, coverage case, or a combination of the three.

1. Boundary challenges can be used to correct inaccurate or missing boundaries that were in effect on January 1, 2020. The number of dwellings in the boundary correction will be reviewed if the challenge provides the individual address records required for the or the blocks concerned. .

2. Geocoding challenges can be used to correct the placement of living quarters (such as a house, apartment, mobile home, or military ship) and associated population within census tabulation boundaries and blocks correct.

3. Coverage challenges can be used to add or remove specific dwellings and associated accounts that were mistakenly included as duplicates or excluded from the count. Coverage corrections are limited to census processing errors that existed in census records as of April 1, 2020.

Incorrect geographic boundaries, dwellings, and counts have been used to produce official census counts in the past, and the CQR process aims to correct them. For example, in 2011, the bureau revised population counts for two 2010 census blocks in Norfolk, Virginia, when a geocoding error misplaced ships reported to Naval Station Norfolk. As a successful challenge, the office noted the errors and created an erratum. The office also created a user update and noted the application of corrections to 2010 Census data products, such as the Redistricting Data Summary File (Public Law 94-171). These corrected counts affected subsequent annual population estimates.

How is a challenge handled?

Once a challenge is received, it goes through a series of review stages, often taking several months before a decision is made and the challenger is notified. In 2010, there were six review stages:

1 – Conduct an initial review of submitted challenge material

2 – Perform an administrative review of the challenge material

3 – Match submitted addresses to census addresses (at this point the office will no longer discuss specific addresses with the submitting jurisdiction or anyone outside of the census office)

4 – Documentation of the research challenge

5 – Challenges are resolved by one of three outcomes

6 – Prepare findings, inform the court and the public

What if a challenge leads to a change?

The Census CQR team solves all challenges. If a challenge results in a change, the Census Bureau provides new officially revised counts to affected state, local, and tribal elected officials in a Letter of Determination. These officials can use the updated data for future programs that require official 2020 census data.

The office will update the MAF/TIGER system, the office’s geographic database system, and new geographic products will be sent to the Population Estimates Program to calculate subsequent population estimates. The office will also prepare and distribute final data and errata files for distribution and place corrections on the already created 2020 CQR webpage.

Additional Resources

2020 RQC Program

RQC Program 2010