(WWJ) -- Michigan will have one less representative in U.S. Congress and one less vote in the Electoral College, beginning in 2023, after data from the 2020 US Census shows the state’s population continues to decline.
The U.S. Census Bureau releases data Monday that determines how many Electoral College votes and congressional seats each state receives.
Michigan’s number of congressional seats will decrease from 14 to 13, while the number of Electoral College votes decreases from 16 to 15.
Michigan is one of seven states to lose a vote, along with California, Illinois, New York, Pennsylvania and West Virginia. Texas will add two seats, while Colorado, Florida, Montana, North Carolina and Oregon each add one.
The U.S. House of Representatives’ 435 seats are divided among the 50 states, based on state population. Michigan’s declining population landed it among the states to lose representation.
After decades of population growth, Michigan saw a decline in 2010 and 2020 census data showed slight growth to just over 10 million residents -- a little under a 2-percent increase -- but it lagged behind the rapid growth seen in states such as Texas and others in the Sun Belt.
The announcement means Michigan will have to redraw its congressional districts, but that will not be left up to the state legislature. Voters approved in 2018 a constitutional amendment that places the responsibility of redistricting in the hands of a 13-member commission, which is made up of four Republicans, four Democrats and five independents.
Michigan's redistricting commission has asked the Supreme Court to push back the Nov. 1 deadline to finalize the redrawn districts, after a delay in the release of census data.
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