Debborah Smith, from the United States Census Bureau, gave us a little "Census 101" talk. In 2020 the Bureau will be encouraging households to submit responses online - first time. Did you know??? Everyone Counts - the census counts every person living in the U. S. once, only once and in the right place. It's In The Constitution - the U. S. Constitution mandates that everyone should be counted every 10 years - first census was in 1790. Fair Representation - every 10 years the results of the census are used to reapportion the House of Representatives to determine how many seats each state gets. $675 Billion - the distribution of more than $675 billion in federal funds, grant and support to states, counties and communities are based on census data. Redistricting - after the census, state officials redraw the boundaries of the congressional and state legislative districts in their states to account for population shifts. Civic Duty - completing the census is mandatory; it is a way to participate in our democracy and say "I COUNT!" The counting will begin on March 12 with an invitation to respond online or with paper questionnaires. Responses to the 2020 Census are safe, secure and protected by Federal law. Your answers can only be used to produce statistics and cannot be used against you in any way.
