Why Should You Participate in the 2020 Census?
What You Need to Know About Making Sure You Count
RESPOND/FILL OUT THE CENSUS ONLINE TODAY AT: www.my2020census.gov
2020 marks an important year for Kansans, and all Americans, as the census returns! The census is everyone’s civic duty, but it is also an incredible opportunity to help shape the future of Kansas.
As far back as 1790, we’ve been counting everyone who lives in this country. We call it the census. America’s founders included the census in the Constitution because they wanted a government that represents the people.
Article 1 Section 2 requires that a census occur every 10 years. That count is used to allocate seats in the House of Representatives for all 50 states and help determine important, often valuable, federal funding. 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 over $6 billion dollars are allocated in Kansas every year for health clinics including mental health services, public schools, housing, roads, senior services, fire stations, job training, veterans’ programs, community centers, parks, literacy programs including public libraries, and hundreds of other critical services and programs that make a difference in our lives every day. Community Development Block Grants from the state of Kansas use census data to determine which cities are eligible to apply for funding.
Census Day is April 1, 2020. The U.S. Census Bureau will send every household a letter with instructions for completing the census on March 9, 2020. Every household is encouraged to complete the census form in one of many ways: online (www.my2020census.gov); using the Internet or a smart phone; over the telephone; calling the Census call center (844-330-2020 for English); or by using a paper form in the mail. Households that do not respond via online, phone, or mail will be contacted at their residential door by census enumerators for in-person interviews.
The census form will ask these questions:
1) Name
2) Phone number
3) Age of all members in the household
4) Sex
5) Race
6) Hispanic origin
7) Relationship to head of household
8) Household tenure (own/rent)
9) Number of people in household
10) Usual place of residence
Census responses are confidential. All data are protected under Title 13 of the U.S. Code and are confidential for 72 years. All Census Bureau employees swear a lifetime oath to protect respondent information. The penalty for wrongful disclosure is up to five years imprisonment and/or a fine of up to $250,000. The Census Bureau will never share a respondent’s personal information with other government agencies. Data is only released in summary tables, no individual records are released.
We all care about Kansas, our communities, Doniphan County, and our homes. We can make a difference by participating in the 2020 Census. If 1% of the Kansas population is uncounted in the 2020 Census, the state of Kansas could miss receiving approximately $603,990,400 in federal funding over a 10-year period. Ensure you count, ensure your community counts, and ensure Kansas Counts by participating in the 2020 Census!
Look for a letter mailed from the U.S. Census Bureau in mid-March sharing with you how to complete the 2020 Census. Don’t throw it away! Follow the instructions and complete the 10 questions to ensure you count, Doniphan County counts, and Kansas counts! (For households with PO Boxes, Census field personnel will deliver questionnaires directly to the door as part of a process known as "Update/Leave" when available to safely.) It only takes a few minutes to fill out, but the impact will be felt for years. In the spring of 2020, everyone in our country will get counted, so don’t miss out on your chance to make a difference.
View the county or individual cities or townships response rates in Doniphan County, Kansas here.
Due to the COVID-19 situation, the U.S. Census Bureau is seeking statutory relief from Congress of 120 additional calendar days to respond to the 2020 Census. This plan would extend the window for field data collection & self-response from July 31, 2020 to October 31, 2020. Read more here.
RESPOND/FILL OUT THE CENSUS ONLINE TODAY AT: www.my2020census.gov
For more information, visit www.KansasCounts.org or www.2020census.gov.