This photo chart deals with estimates. The argument for 2020 should have been that actually counting are the best.
That's part of the rub, the argumentation/justification was flawed from the beginning.
1. Experts say that adding a Citizenship question will negatively impact the quality of the Census. The question is also unnecessary, because better citizenship data is already available from other government sources. So it would make sense to not add it.
2. Apparently it has not been a question on
all Census forms for 230 years. Sometimes it has been on, or not, on some Census forms but not all. A change to add it on
all forms is possible, but only after justification why the forms must be altered. It's a costly operation, so not wasting money can be a good reason to leave things as they are.
3. The administration seems to have lied to Congres, with regards to who asked for adding the question, and when. In addition, questions about it have not been fully answered while protocol requires the government to do so. There has been an overall unwillingness to justify the change. Why? Why the stonewalling? What's there to hide? Why suddenly make a rush job out of it?
4. Evidence has surfaced that the real reason is that it would positively influence the later redrawing of districts
in favor of the Republican party. It would negatively affect non-white voter participation. So it is clearly a partisan tactical move to include the question.
So, it creates lower quality data (that will lead to significantly under-budgeting of utilities, infrastructure, Hospitals, Schools, etc.), and it discriminates against people of color.
It only makes sense for partisan reasons, and has a whole lot of other serious negative effects.
So, why would anyone want to do such a stupid thing?
Cheers,
Bart