March 10, 2020
By: Dwayne Page
It’s time to be counted!
DeKalb County residents should receive an invitation this week to complete the U.S. Census. A process done every 10 years required by the U.S. Constitution to count the nation’s population
“You can expect to see the first mailers of an invitation to respond between March 12 and 20 either on-line or over the phone. We officially begin the count on April 1,” said Gabe Powell, Partnership Specialist with the U.S. Census Bureau.
It’s important for residents to complete the questionnaire because billions of dollars are on the line for the Midstate. How the count is done has changed since the last census was taken 10 years ago.
“For the first time ever, we are going to allow the internet option in order to respond to the census survey. It will be available March 12,” said Powell.
If you don’t answer the questions online, there will be the old-fashioned knock on the door, but even that has changed.
“Census takers will have iPhones and tablets this time in order to collect the data. Everything is automated, goes through secure servers and uploaded,” said Powell.
Responding to the census is important. Here’s why every person matters in the count.
“A lot of people don’t realize that each person correlates to dollars that come back to the community,” said Powell.
“Those federal dollars help things like schools, hospitals, roads and all types of infrastructure.”
All households receiving an invitation in the mail will receive a second letter in the mail shortly after reminding them to respond. Then, households that still haven’t responded will receive a series of additional reminders, including a paper questionnaire in mid-April. Census takers will follow up with households that don’t respond to collect responses in person.
10 Questions about the 2020 Census
The U.S. Constitution requires a com¬plete count of the nation’s population every 10 years, but many people do not realize how it works and how important the census is to our community.
1. What is the Census?
The U.S. Census is one of the foundations of our form of government and it’s the first census in the world that was created to give the people power over their government rather than for taxation or conscription into military service. Article 1, Section 2 of the United States Constitution establishes that a national census will be taken every ten years for two specific purposes.
First, each state is be equal in the Senate, but representation in the House of Representatives is based on population, so the number of representatives each state has in Congress is based on the official census population.
Second, the constitution establishes that the census will be used to apportion direct taxes, meaning that part of our federal tax money is redistributed back to the states based on their population. More than $675 billion is returned to local communities each year to support services everyone uses such transportation, health care, education, communication and public safety. These resources are essential to the well-being of all of our neighbors.
2. Why is the 2020 Census important?
Everyone living here benefits from a complete and accurate count to ensure that the services they use – from roads and schools to emergency medical care – are adequately funded. When some folks aren’t counted, it reduces the community’s ability to plan for and provide services that benefit everyone. Because a nationwide count of every person in the United States only occurs every ten years, the results of the census affect us for the next decade.
3. When will the Census begin?
In Mid-March most households will receive a letter from the U.S. Census Bureau inviting them to respond to the 2020 census. Additional mailings will happen roughly each week until the household responds to the Census or a census-taker is able to collect the information in person.
4. How do you respond to the census?
Responding to the census is easy, it’s confidential, and it’s important. For the first time, people will have the option of responding to the census online using their smart phone or a computer, or they can respond by phone, by mail, or when a census-taker comes to their door.
5. What questions are asked on the census form?
The census questionnaire asks just a few questions about each individual living in the home and takes just a few minutes to respond. The householder will need to provide the name, age, sex and race for each person and their relationship to the householder.
6. Should I list relatives and people living here who aren’t related to me?
It’s very important that you include include everyone living or staying in the home, regardless of the person’s age or relationship to the householder. Anyone who does not live most of the time in another place where they will be counted should be counted in your home. Be sure to count infants and young children in the home, whether they are in your custody or not.
7. Will my answers be available to law enforcement, social security, welfare, IRS, immigration, etc.?
Information provided to the U.S. Census Bureau is completely confidential and will not be released to anyone. Under federal law, census responses cannot be shared with any other government agencies and can never be used against you in any way. There are no exceptions.
8. Is this email/phone call from the Census Bureau real?
Please be aware that the Census Bureau will not contact you by email and will only call you on the phone if they need to verify information you provided. If you receive an email about the census, please delete it and do not respond. Also, the census will not ask you for your full social security number or for any financial information such as banking or credit information.
9. How can I help ensure my community is counted?
Conducting the census is a massive undertaking. We encourage everyone to join us in spreading the word. Talk with your friends and neighbors and any community organizations you meet with and tell them how important it is to you all that they respond to the census. Help your community understand that the census is easy and confidential.
10. Should I apply for a job as a census-taker?
If you have extra time, consider applying to work as a census-taker. It’s a very flexible job that is based on your availability and it pays a great wage plus mileage reimbursement. Your extra time during the day or evenings and weekends could help bring more of our federal tax money back to fund schools, roads, healthcare, public safety and other services we all rely on every day.
Just about anyone can be a census-taker… some do it for some extra money, others do it to be part of history, others out of civic duty, and others for fun because they enjoy getting to know more of their neighbors. Whatever your motivation, please apply to help shape the future of your community.
• Census-takers work on their own schedule based on their availability so it’s easy to do this in addition to your other responsibilities. Much of the work will take place afternoons, evenings and weekends.
• You will be visiting homes that have not responded to the census on their own to help ensure that everyone is counted.
• Hiring is happening now. Work will likely run from training and preparatory work in February and March, to field assignments for three to eight weeks between April and June.
• Applicants must be 18 or older, have a valid email address, and have access to reliable transportation.
• Other requirements, details, and the online application are available at 2020census.gov/jobs