Happy Census Day
April 01 2020Today is Census Day!
The United States has done a Census every decade since1790. This Census is perhaps the most important of our lifetime.
Census Day – April 1 – is a point in time marker when the U.S. Census Bureau measures our population. Where are you living on April 1? Who is living with you on that day?
Besides some of those more technical aspects of April 1 – today is also a reminder to everyone living in the United States that the Census is underway! It is a chance to commemorate this decennial, national count, as designated by the U.S. Census Bureau.
You can respond now by phone, online or mail, with limited houses initially receiving the paper form. This nine-question survey is simple and easy to complete. Every Californian can participate online at my2020census.gov or by phone at 844-330-2020 (see a list of numbers here).
What Californians Need to Know About the 2020 Census:
· The Census is a simple, confidential 9 question survey
· Questions include name, address, sex, race, ethnicity, age, and whether you own or rent the home
· Californians should self-identify in regard to race, ethnicity and gender
· Make sure you count everyone in your home, including any friends or family members who are living and sleeping there most of the time
· The Census Bureau will never ask about your citizenship status, or for sensitive information like your social security number, bank accounts, or payments/donations
· The Census Bureau will never reach out to you on behalf of a political party
· Your responses to the Census are protected by law and cannot be shared with, or used by, any other government agencies. Answers cannot be used for law enforcement purposes, to determine eligibility for government benefits or immigration enforcement
· For more information and answers to frequently asked questions, please visit californiacensus.org.
Why California’s Participation Counts:
Ensuring every California household participates in the Census is critically important. Mandated by the U.S. Constitution, the Census determines how billions of dollars of federal funding are distributed to each state every year for education resources, affordable housing programs, nutrition and health care services, and more. Estimates show that for every person uncounted, California could lose $1,000 a year for 10 years. That’s as much as $10,000 per person in funds lost over the next decade.
The Census also determines the state’s political representation through the number of representatives in the U.S. Congress and the California State Legislature. Participating in the Census can help ensure Californians’ voices are heard in Sacramento and Washington, D.C.