While it seems like the COVID-19 outbreak has caused the entire world to come to a stop, the 2020 Census is still underway and it is important every household participate in this nationwide count.

Article 1, Section 2 of the United States Constitution requires a count of every person in the United States and five U.S. territories every ten years. The first census was in 1790 and it has been conducted every decade since despite the numerous challenges the nation has surely endured over the past 230 years. This year is no different and while we are facing some hard times, participating in the 2020 Census couldn’t be easier. For the first time in history, households can complete the census form online, by phone or by mail.

Why is participation in the Census important? The numbers gathered from the Census determine the flow of billions of federal tax dollars across the United State and its territories. Over $675 billion every year is given back to communities based on the census numbers to fund vital programs that involve housing, transportation, health care, education and employment, to name a few. Census numbers are also used to shape our congressional and legislative districts to ensure every citizen is equally represented.

Your household should have already received an invitation to participate in the 2020 Census and may have received a census questionnaire as well. Eventually census takers will be visiting households that have not responded to ensure every person is counted. In an effort to protect census field workers from the novel coronavirus, the U.S. Census Bureau has pushed back the dates for household interviews to late May through mid-August. You can do your part in protecting individuals by responding to your invitation to participate now: https://2020census.gov/en/ways-to-respond.html

Be safe, but please, be counted!