Census 2020 is here! Census invitations went in the mail last week. Be on the lookout for your Census letter. For the first time ever, you will be able to complete your Census response online. Your Census letter will have a special code that you will use to respond online. Before you start filling out the Census, make sure you have the name, gender, race, age and birthdate of everyone who lives in your house, regardless of whether they are related to you or not. The Census is a total count of everyone who lives in the United States. So, one person at each address will complete the Census for EVERYONE who lives at that address.
Your Census information is safe. You will not be asked for your social security number or your bank account number. Your information will not be used against you. It will not be turned over to the IRS, law enforcement or immigration and it will not be sold to marketing companies.
What is the Census?
Every 10 years, the U.S. undertakes a Census to count every individual - man, woman and child - in every county, in every state, in the country. It is a mammoth undertaking that you will be hearing much more about in the next two months.
What to Expect:
You will receive a U.S. Census mailing in March to complete and return. If you don't respond after a couple of weeks, you will get a reminder mailing. Then, a couple of weeks later, if you haven't returned your Census form, you will get another reminder via post card. Finally, if you still haven't returned your Census form, you will get a personal visit by a U.S. Census employee knocking on your door. The easiest thing to do - to avoid extra mail and a door-to-door Census visit - is to fill out the form and return it as soon as you get it.
How CAN I GET Counted?
There are multiple ways that you can respond to insure you are counted:
- Mail: The Census questionnaire will be mailed to every household in the U.S. beginning in March.
- Online: For the first time in Census history, you can respond online.
- Telephone: You may provide your Census information by telephone.
- In-person: If you have not returned your Census form and or cant' be reached by telephone, you will receive a personal visit from a Census representative.
Will my personal information be safe?
Since the U.S. Census is only taken once every 10 years, you may be concerned about what will happen to your personal information. First of all, rest assured, your data is safe and confidential. Strict federal law protects your Census information. Your personal information will not be sold to marketing firms and you will not be bombarded with sales calls. You also will NOT be asked for your social security number, your bank account number, our credit card number or money.
Data collected can only be used for statistical purposes that provide information for important decisions, including how much funding your community receives. The Census Bureau has a robust cyber security program that incorporates industry best practices and federal security standards for encrypting data.
Why should I participate?
Responding to the census is not only your civic duty; it also affects the amount of funding your community receives, how your community plans for the future, and your representation in government.
- $675 BILLION DOLLARS: Data from the Census provides the basis for the allocation of $675 billion in federal funding to programs and services to communities across the country. When the population increases, communities are eligible to receive increased funding for roads, jobs, libraries, housing, schools, healthcare and public policy.
- Representation: Census data is also used to redraw the boundaries of congressional and state legislative districts and accurately determine the number of congressional seats each state has in the U.S. House of Representatives.
- Neighborhood development: Census data helps in the planning of new homes and businesses and improvements for neighborhoods.
A couple of things to remember:
- Don't forget to include your children and any other family members who are living with you on the Census form.
- Tell your friends, family, church members, neighbors, co-workers and social media followers about the Census and encourage them to fill out their form and send it back in.
You will be hearing a lot more about the U.S. Census in the next few months. Thank you for helping us get a complete count of everyone in Cleveland County.
Thank you for helping count Cleveland County!