Despite a week having passed since the unofficial mail-in deadline for United States Census forms, Nassau County residents still can mail in forms to be counted before the Census Bureau begins sending workers door to door to count citizens. As of today, the Census Bureau estimates a participation rate of 60 percent for Nassau County, which is slightly below the current nationwide participation rate of 62 percent and well below the 76 percent participation rate Nassau County had in 2000.

“The federal government has been spending millions of dollars to educate citizens and encourage them to send in their forms. It seems that the majority of Nassau County has realized just how important this massive undertaking is, but 100 percent participation should be our goal for this task,” said Assemblyman McDonough. “In addition to the federal funding, which is highlighted in the government’s marketing campaign, I want to ensure that all citizens realize that this is a chance to make sure that when redistricting is done next year, Long Island and Nassau County are properly and equitably represented in both Albany and Washington. We won’t get another opportunity to be counted for another ten years. If trends continue, New York will undoubtedly lose seats in the House of Representatives, and Long Island will be underrepresented in the State Senate and Assembly.”

Before the 2012 elections, the New York State Legislature will use the information gathered by the U.S. Census Bureau to redraw boundary lines for all congressional, state senate and assembly districts. Due to the fact that there must be 435 representatives in Congress, the amount that is apportioned to New York varies every ten years. In 2002, New York lost two seats in the House of Representatives due to residents leaving this state and other states growing much faster.

At the state level, there are 62 senate and 150 assembly districts. During reapportionment districts often may be eliminated in areas that are under counted and recreated in areas that gain population. More often than not this creates a consolidation of power in New York City from the neighboring suburban counties. This is exacerbated by the fact that while congressional districts must contain an equal number of citizens, assembly and senate seats may vary by as much as 10 percent in population. With one party control in Albany, it is possible that districts represented by the Minority could contain 10 percent more people than those represented by the Majority.

“This legally justified incumbency protection system goes against the spirit of the U.S. Constitution, which espouses the merits of equal representation for all citizens,” continued McDonough. “In the coming months, I will continue pushing for 100 percent participation in the census by the residents of Nassau County while looking at ways in which we can legislatively ensure that as lines are drawn in the next year, every New Yorker’s voice is heard equally at the voting booth.”

For more information on how to participate in the U.S. Census, please visit http://www.census.gov/.