While there are a few other things going on in the world grabbing the headlines, March 12 is important for another reason; the U.S. Census begins today. Households in Colorado will soon receive invitations to participate in the count. This year households will have the option to respond online, by mail, or by phone, making it easier than ever for Coloradans to participate.
“The 2020 Census will help determine almost every federal dollar we receive in Colorado, which will affect the amount of money allocated to state and county programs,” said Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet “The census is vital to ensuring Coloradans and people across the country, especially those in communities who have been historically under counted, receive the resources and representation they deserve. In the coming days, I urge every household to participate in the 2020 Census.”
Completing the U.S. Census every ten years is mandated by the Constitution. The U.S. Census counts each person living in the United States to decide how federal resources should be distributed and how many congressional districts each state should have. Consequently, a low response rate in Colorado will negatively affect the amount of money allotted to programs such as Medicaid, housing vouchers, and nutritional assistance. It could also negatively affect the number of Colorado’s representatives in Congress.
Contrary to inaccurate rumors, the personal information provided to the census is secure and cannot be shared with other government entities. Federal law prohibits any government or law enforcement agency besides the U.S. Census Bureau from accessing personal information provided in the census. Participating in the census is safe and secure and the survey does not include a citizenship question. Information provided in the census is used solely to count the population, determine representation in Congress, and allocate federal resources for a range of programs.
Invitations to participate in the online census will be sent in the mail. For more information about the census, visit: www.2020census.gov.
Recent Comments