WASHINGTON -- States are getting new leeway in tallying their prisoners in the 2010 census.

The Census Bureau previously provided the breakdowns on group quarters, like prisons, after states finished their high-stakes redistricting.

That resulted in districts with prisons getting extra representation -- despite laws in some states that say a prison cell is not a residence.

Now prison data will be made available earlier. States can decide whether they want to count inmates for purposes of redistricting and -- if so -- where they should be considered residents of rural areas were units are often built, or cities, where many prisoners are from.

The Associated Press reports the impact could be strongly felt in New York, Illinois, Iowa, Wisconsin, California, Texas and Maryland.

Also, while the prison data will have breakdowns on where inmates are, it will not include information on their hometowns.

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