Social Distance and Serve Your Community by Filling out the 2020 Census

Yes, it’s that time again. Every 10 years, the federal government takes on the gargantuan task of counting everyone that lives in the U.S.

If you’ve been keeping an eye on your mail, you probably received your invitation to fill out the census. It’s easy to toss that paper notice aside, especially with the state our country’s in. After all, it’s just a few little questions. How important can it be?

What’s So Important About the U.S. Census?

Although it may not seem like it, the 10 minutes it takes to fill out the Census makes a huge difference in our communities for the next 10 years. How, you ask? Well, there a couple of ways:

1. It ensures we receive adequate funding for federal programs.

About $675 billion in federal funding is tied to Census data. Out of that amount, a whopping $60 billion is allocated to Texas alone. Filling out the census means that programs like Medicare and Medicaid, Pell Grants, free school lunch, and SNAP will continue to be well-funded and serve Texans for a long time to come.

2. It determines our representation in Congress.

Texas has the most population growth of any U.S. state, and as such, we require a large number of congressmen to adequately represent the diverse views of Texans. We currently hold 36 congressional seats and stand to gain three more, thanks to Census data. An undercount could mean losing seats, which means the voices of countless Texans would go unheard.

3. It gives us data for planning and infrastructure.

Are you close to a park, school, library, or fire station? Have you or someone you know taken public transportation? Has a new road or highway helped you get somewhere faster? That’s the Census working for us. About 145 people move to Austin every day. Filling out the census means better data for city planning and is a small but important step toward creating a better city for both current and future Austinites.

The Big Takeaway

If you’ve already filled out the Census, congratulations! Thank you for doing your part to help our community. If not, no worries! There’s still plenty of time left. You have until August 14 to respond online, by mail, or by phone. No social interaction required.

But don’t let it stop there. Talk to your friends, family, and neighbors, while remaining six feet apart, of course, and make sure they have also filled out the Census. We can’t afford to be undercounted. For more information regarding the impact of the Census on Austin, visit the Travis County Complete Count Committee.

Let’s get counted y’all!