As far back as 1790, we’ve been counting everyone who lives in this country. We call it the census. And America’s founders included the census in the Constitution because they wanted a government that represents the people. Article 1 Section 2 mandates that a census occur every ten years. And that count is used to allocate seats in the House of Representatives for all 50 states.
But the census is all that and more. It's a once-a-decade chance to track the shifts in population across our country. Where do we need to build more schools, hospitals, and roads? Your response to the 2020 Census will inform how billions in federal funding flow to communities every year.
In March, every household will get an invitation to complete a simple questionnaire to record every person living at your address. There will be three ways to respond: online/mobile, by phone call, or sending the census by mail. Local census takers will assist those who do not respond.
The Census Bureau will keep your personal information safe and secure. By law, it cannot be shared with other government agencies, law enforcement, or landlords. So you can complete your 2020 Census with peace of mind.
The census data will help governments make funding decisions, nonprofits perform services, and businesses create jobs. Understanding changes in our population will help our community for the better. The census also helps distribute the 435 seats in the House of Representatives among the 50 states. Small states get one seat, and larger states get more (based on population). An accurate count of the population helps our state get the right amount of seats.
So please take a few minutes to participate in the 2020 Census. Shape your future. START HERE. Visit 2020census.gov.
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