The United States Census Bureau released its 2020 census data on August 12, setting the ball rolling for redistricting in Ohio and across the country.

A general overview of the data showed population growth was at its slowest pace in decades, and Ohio is in the lowest growth category, posting a 1.3% change in population growth. .

The country is more diverse, according to Nicholas Jones, director and senior adviser for race and ethnicity research and outreach for the Census Bureau’s population division. Census analysts, however, are still looking at the data to determine if the larger increase in diverse populations has anything to do with earlier undercounts of demographic populations.

Ron Jarmin, acting director of the US Census Bureau, said it was “too early to speculate on overcounts or undercounts in any demographic group,” but he trusted the accuracy. Datas.

The Ohio Redistricting Commission still hasn’t scheduled public hearings to seek comment on the district map redesign, but commission co-chair Sen. Vernon Sykes, D-Akron, said that it was time to get to work.

“I hope this data will also soon be made available to the public in an accessible format so that Ohioans can submit their own maps,” Sykes said in a statement Thursday.

This story was originally published by The Ohio Capital Journal and republished here with permission.

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