By Deb Kroon
Review Staff Writer
The US Constitution mandates that the country count its population once every 10 years. The 2020 Census will mark the 24th time that the country has counted its population since 1790. The census counts every person living in the United States and five US territories (Puerto Rico, American Samoa, the Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands, Guam and the US Virgin Islands). The count began in Alaska in January and the first numbers will be published by the end of the year. The goal is to count everyone once, only once, and in the right place. The Census Bureau’s own research finds that the national count has been accurate as a whole, but some groups, such as renters, Afro-American and Hispanic US residents, have been under-counted. The first results are due by Dec. 31, but due to the coronavirus, some of the deadline dates have been changed.
Most people are counted at their home address, the place where they live and sleep most of the time. For example, college students who live in college housing are counted there. Homeless people are counted at soup kitchens and other places that serve people without homes.
There is no question about citizenship on the census form. The Census Bureau also never asks for Social Security numbers, or bank or credit information. Everyone is asked their name, age, birth date, sex and race. This year’s form did have write-in boxes for respondents to provide more detail about their origins.
The 2020 Census will provide a picture of our nation-who we are, where we live, and so much more. Over the next decade, this information will be used to make critical decisions such as where communities need new schools, new clinics, new roads and more services for families, older adults and children. The results will also inform how hundreds of billions of dollars on federal funding are allocated to more than 100 programs, including Medicaid, Head Start, block grants for community mental health services, fire departments, hospitals, school lunch programs and other critical programs and services. Business owners use the data to make decisions such as where to open new stores, restaurants, factories or offices, where to expand, where to recruit employees and which products and services to offer.
The results of the census also determine the number of seats each state will have in the US House of Representatives, and they are used to draw congressional and state legislative districts. Minnesota is at risk of losing one of its congressional seats if a full census count is not taken.
When filling out your census, be truthful. The US Census Bureau is bound by law to protect your answers and keep them strictly confidential. In fact, every employee takes an oath to protect your personal information for life. Your information really does affect the outcome for your community. The bottom line—it is crucial to complete and send in your census. An under-count could severely reduce funding in areas that money is urgently needed.
The government reports that about 85% of Minnesota households have completed the census. The census deadline has been extended until October 31, so if you are in the 15% that hasn’t – turn it in today!
