2020 Census relies on you
We are living in historic times! 2020 is almost upon us. The US Constitution requires a census every 10 years. The census covers the entire country and everyone living here. The first census was in 1790.
The census provides crucial data to not only our government but also researchers. Anyone who has researched their ancestry at the Atlanta Public Library knows the value of the census.
We also know the 1890 census was lost in a fire which creates a gap in information about our own family history, highlighting the importance these many decades later. I encourage you to participate in the census so that our ancestors can look back on these times and have an account of who we were and where we come from.
Everyone counts. The census counts every person living in the US once and only once and in the right place. Real estate developers use the census to build new homes and revitalize old neighborhoods. Residents use the census to support community initiatives involving legislation, quality -of-life and consumer advocacy. Business use census data to decide where to build factories offices and stores which creates jobs.
Your data is confidential. Federal law protects your census responses. Your answers can only be used to produce statistics.
By law the US Census cannot share your information with law enforcement agencies or allow it to be used to determine your eligibility for government benefits.
Every 10 years the results of the census are used to reapportion the US House of Representatives, determining how many seats each state gets. This in turn determines how many electoral college votes we get. In 2010, Texas gained four congressional seats and increased their electoral college votes from to 34 to 38. Each state gets two votes for each US Senator and one vote for each US Congressman.
The number of representatives is static at 435 so the more population shifts to Texas, the larger our voting block becomes.
After each census, state officials also use the results to redraw the boundaries of their congressional and state legislative districts, adapting to population shifts.
When we are up against urban areas on important issues, we need as much representation as we can get. Therefore, it is so critically important that everyone in our community is counted.
Census data also determines how more than $675 billion are spent supporting your state, county, and community’s vital programs. The census data provides the basis to support many programs related to health care services, housing, education, transportation, and other areas of public policy.
Programs like Medicare Part B, Highway Planning and Construction, National School Lunch Program, Title 1 Grants to Local Education Agencies, Head Start and Early Head Start, Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), and many other programs rely on census data from local areas in order to justify their use in those areas. Without our response, we risk missing out.
Taking part is your civic duty. While completing the census is voluntary, it’s a way to participate in our democracy and say, “I Count!” In 2020, for the first time ever, the US Census Bureau will accept responses online and by phone, but you can still respond by mail if you prefer.
I need your help. In the coming weeks, I will be appointing a Complete Count Committee to get the word out, increase awareness, and motivate the local public to respond to the 2020 Census.
If you would like to serve, let me know! Be informed and get involved. Participate, encourage others to participate.
Go online and check out the many interesting things that the census data provides for.
Go to https://2020Census.gov and share this article and share about your participation on social media as well.