The Census Undercount Hurts Florida’s Political Influence demonstrates that the 2020 Census missed about 750,000 Floridians — 3.48 % of the population. Correcting that error with U.S. Census Bureau methodology shows the undercount shifted three U.S. House seats nationally: Colorado, Minnesota, and Rhode Island would each lose a seat, while Florida, Tennessee, and Texas would each gain one — raising Florida’s delegation to 29 seats instead of 28.
Every House seat equals one electoral vote, so the miscount also diverted three electoral votes away from Florida‑leaning states; in the razor‑thin 2024 presidential contest, that swing alone could have altered the Electoral College result. Inside Congress, where landmark legislation has passed by a single vote (215‑214), Florida’s missing representative could likewise decide national policy.
To prevent a repeat in 2030, the report calls on Florida’s business and community leaders to:
- Stay informed through Florida TaxWatch’s Census Institute.
- Act as trusted messengers, explaining that census data are confidential and vital.
- Lend their voices to advocate for state funding and local Complete Count Committees.
- Invest early in grassroots outreach — especially in hard‑to‑count immigrant communities — to ensure every resident is counted.
An accurate census is not a statistical formality — it safeguards Floridians’ representation in Congress and influence in presidential elections. Florida TaxWatch will continue convening stakeholders and advancing reforms so the state receives the voice it has earned.