August 24, 2020
By: Dwayne Page
DeKalb County wants to make sure YOU are counted in the 2020 Census. Accurate Census counts are critical to our community’s future, determining federal representation and how state and federal funding are allocated.
U.S. Census Bureau Staff will be back in DeKalb County at Prichard’s Foods in Alexandria Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, August 24, 26, & 28 for mobile questionnaire assistance to help people respond online to the 2020 Census. Look for them from 9:30 a.m. until 5 p.m. on those days.
The current DeKalb County self response rate to the census is at 50.3% which is approximately 12% below the Tennessee average. Self response rates for the cities are as follows: Liberty-49.2%, Alexandria 55.2%, Smithville 57.4%, and Dowelltown 57. 4%. The final county wide response rate for 2010 was 62.3%.
The Mobile Questionnaire Assistance (MQA) program is part of the Census Bureau’s final push to encourage people to complete the 2020 Census before beginning door-to door efforts at non-responsive households. At MQA events census response representatives will help people complete the census on a provided tablet or on their own device and can assist with any questions.
Assistance will be provided while practicing state and local social distancing protocols. All census workers have been trained in social distancing protocols and issued personal protective equipment (PPE), including masks to be worn during MQA support. During all outreach efforts, staff are identified with an ID badge with their name, photograph, a U.S. Department of Commerce watermark seal, and an expiration date. They will have an official Census Bureau issued bag and tablet. MQA locations will have banners bearing the 2020 Census logo. Residents can continue to respond to the Census online or by phone via www.my2020census.gov or 1-844-330-2020. Likewise, anyone in need of assistance for completing the Census can visit one of the MQA sites in your community.