Tomorrow’s the BIG DAY! On Thursday, March 12, notices to fill out the 2020 Census online will hit local mailboxes -- the notices will include a Census ID Number, which is needed to complete the form online.
Census 2020 is our nation’s way of deciding representation, distributing funding and how cities, counties and states can plan for the future. That’s why it’s so important that EVERYONE participates.
So what can you do? Learn the facts, and encourage your family and community members to get counted!
What’s the Census 2020?
The Census is how the U.S. government counts the number of people that live in the United States. It happens every 10 years, and the next one begins THIS WEEK!
Starting Thursday, the census can be filled out ONLINE here: https://2020census.gov/. It’s as easy as that! Your family has until April 30th to fill it out.
Why does the Census matter?
Census information is important for a lot of reasons:
- FAIR REPRESENTATION: After the Census is taken, the population count is used to redraw the boundaries of congressional and state legislative districts – including the House of Representatives (Congress) for each state.
- FUNDING: Census data is used to distribute billions of dollars in funding to state and local governments—including money for schools, roads, and local services that help keep our communities strong.
- FUTURE: Population data is used to plan where to build new schools, hospitals, supermarkets, and other local businesses.
Taking part in Census 2020 matters because we ALL count – it is our job to participate in our democracy and claim the resources and our right to political representation!
Who is counted?
The Census counts EVERYONE living in the United States – no matter their immigration status.
- You or your parents can find out more information about how the Census Bureau has decided to count those in unique living situations, such as college students, incarcerated people, and deployed troops.
What questions get asked?
- The number of people living or staying in a home on April 1, 2020 – including babies!
- Whether the home is owned, rented, or occupied without rent
- A phone number for someone living in the home
- The name, sex, age, date of birth and race of each person in the home
- The relationship of each person to a central person in the home
Will this year’s Census include a question about citizenship?
NO! You may have heard that the Census might ask who is and isn’t a citizen, but that question was not approved by our legal system.
- If someone you know is nervous about opening their doors to Census workers who visit homes to gather forms, they can still participate in the 2020 Census online, by telephone, or at community-run assistance centers!
Is the information given on the Census form kept private?
YES! The information your family shares with the Census is sensitive, and the Census Bureau is legally required to protect it.
- The information can only be used to create statistics
- Answers CANNOT be shared with or used by law enforcement or any branch of the government! Not the police, ICE, FBI, CIA—no one.
I’m under 18 — What am I supposed to do?
- Help your parents or caretakers understand the importance of completing the Census form
- Make sure someone in your home fills out the Census form – and that they count you!
- Share FACTUAL information about the census! You never know who in your community needs to hear it – whether it be your friends who can share information with their parents, or other adults in your life who are receiving mixed messages about what the 2020 Census is about.
I’m a college student – do I fill out a Census form?
- If you live at home, you should be counted at your home address.
- If you live away from home, you should count yourself at the on- or off-campus residence where you live!
Okay, now I’m pumped about the Census! What do I do now?
- Follow us on Instagram @teensourceorg or Twitter @teensource and reshare our graphics to get the word out!
- Encourage your family to visit https://2020census.gov/ and fill out their census using the Census ID Number listed in the notice TODAY!