The U.S. Census Bureau reported that Florida’s population was severely undercounted in 2020. Florida’s population was underestimated by approximately 3.48%, about 750,000 people. This was among the most severe in the U.S. Even though we got one extra Congressional seat, it should have been two.
The state needed 171,500 more residents to qualify for an additional House seat, so the undercount exceeded that threshold by a wide margin. We now have 28 seats in the House, and the Electoral College tally is 30 (28 House + 2 Senate).
A more recent survey revealed six states, mainly in the South, with significant undercounts—Texas, Tennessee, Mississippi, Illinois, Florida, and Arkansas—and eight with overcounts, including New York and Massachusetts. Because of the undercount, “our” Florida seat went to Minnesota, Colorado, or Rhode Island.
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The ideal population for Florida’s Congressional districts is 769,221, obtained by dividing the state’s population exactly 28 ways.
When all the residents of Florida are not counted, the state’s voice in the Senate, the House, and the White House becomes quieter, and taxpayers pay the price. However, even if the Census Bureau uncovers inaccuracies, the law does not allow it to change the seats apportioned to each state.
Looking back, the Founding Fathers knew the census was critical to protecting a fair democracy. Our country was the first in the world to install a national census, conducted regularly, to reapportion legislative seats to “adjust to changing population size and distribution.”
There are several ways that Florida’s business community can prevent a repeat in 2030. Florida TaxWatch has prepared a list of actions to take for Florida residents to participate in the 2030 Census fully:
Stay up-to-date on census-related issues. TaxWatch conducts and provides research to stay current on census developments, which helps businesses stay connected with other organizations so the business community can promote a complete census count.
Act as a trusted messenger. Encourage friends, families, colleagues, employees, and even customers to spread awareness about the importance of decennial consensus. All information is private and cannot be seen by government agencies.
Lend your voice. Use your voice to encourage involvement and cooperation from businesses and government officials. Awareness campaigns and increased governmental funding for grassroots efforts bring the state closer to a complete census count.
Invest in your community. Invest in grassroots efforts in your county that help residents complete their census surveys.
Even with 2030 a few years away, an early investment in grassroots efforts allows time to organize and develop effective plans to support a complete census count.
This will help Florida avoid being again a state where the number of people believed to have been omitted from the report was among the worst in the nation.
Other stories you may want to read:
- John R. Smith: How America Got Swamped by $38 Trillion of Debt - November 12, 2025
- John R. Smith: Popular College Majors Don’t Match Job Demand - October 29, 2025
- John R. Smith: Economic Forecast for Florida - October 13, 2025