The 2022 National Census is being protested by opposition political leaders. The opponents request the postponing of the Census, others criticize questions being asked to compile the data.
Why the opposition? An op-ed feature in Diario Libre has some explanations. Constitutional law expert Cristóbal Rodríguez Gómez writes in Diario Libre that the census will provide updated demographical data meaning more city councilors and more deputy positions in Congress. This could result in a strengthening of the government position in Congress, with the election in the 2024 general election of more legislators, changing the political party composition of the present Congress. The increase in membership could result in the government party reaching the number of legislators needed to pass constitutional amendments, for instance.
One of the most vocal opponents of the census, is former deputy Vinicio Castillo Seman, who sees in it a ploy to unify Haiti and the Dominican Republic.
Meanwhile, President Luis Abinader has said he will be citizen No. 1 to answer the census when it kicks off on 10 November 2022. The 10th National Population and Housing Census had been scheduled to take place in 2020, but due to the Covid-19 pandemic had to be postponed.
For the 10th National Population and Housing Census, 35,000 pollsters will be out on city streets collecting information on how many people live here, where people live, and details on housing and disabilities for 14 days, from 10 to 23 November. The goal is to reach 95% of all households.
Miosotis Rivas, director of the National Office of Statistics, the government entity that is in charge of organizing and implementing the census, has been on a road tour promoting the census.
This is the first census where pollsters will enter the information directly into electronic devices. This is to make the data readily available. In previous years, the census data took years to become available to the general public. Minister of Economy and Planning Pavel Isa says the results will be known in the first quarter of 2023.
The census has the backing of most business groups and the Catholic Church of the Dominican Republic.
The ballot for the census is available online at the National Statistics website.
Read more in Spanish:
El Nuevo Diario
Acento
Diario Libre
N Digital
Diario Libre
Diario Libre
El Caribe
National Statistics Office
9 November 2022