SHAPE
YOUR FUTURE CENSUS 2020
By
Rebecca Schejbal
The
2020 Census is here.
Soon
you will be asked to count everyone who lives in your home as of April 1. Responding
to the 2020 Census is a chance to shape the future of Downers Grove Township.
Be counted!
2020Census.gov
Taking
part is our civic duty. It’s mandated by the U.S. Constitution and a vital way
to participate in our democracy.
In
March 2020, every household will receive an invitation in the mail to respond.
You can respond securely online, by mail, or by phone. Regardless of how you
respond, your personal information is protected by federal law. By law, all
responses to U.S. Census surveys are kept completely confidential.
Why is
it important to respond to the 2020 Census?
It’s
about redistricting. Your responses are used to redraw legislative
districts. State officials will use census data to redraw the boundaries of the
Illinois congressional and state legislative districts to account for
population shifts.
It’s
about representation. The results of the census are used to reapportion
the House of Representatives, determining how many seats each state gets.
It’s
about funding. Your responses inform where over $675 billion
is distributed each year for clinics, schools, roads, and more. Residents also use
the census to support community initiatives involving legislation,
quality-of-life, and consumer advocacy.
Can I
respond online?
Yes,
at 2020Census.gov. The 2020 Census marks the first time you will be invited to
respond online. When you respond online, the website guides you through each
question. The census form will be available in English and 12 additional
languages (and guides are available in 59 languages). All responses submitted
online are encrypted to protect personal privacy. Once responses are received,
they are no longer online.
Is my
information safe?
Your
responses to the 2020 Census are safe, secure, and protected by federal law.
Your answers can only be used to produce statistics. Your personal information
cannot be accessed by the police department, DHS, ICE, FBI, or CIA.
Who is
counted?
The
2020 Census counts every living person in the United States as of April 1 – no
matter where they are from, why they are in the United States, and whether or
not they are documented.
When can
I respond?
In
early 2020, every household in America will receive a notice to complete the
census online, by phone, or by mail. In May, the U.S. Census Bureau will begin
following up in person with households that have yet to respond.
Why is
there a question on race?
Responses
to census questions provide a snapshot of the nation. The statistics will
illustrate the nation’s changing racial diversity, as well as the size, growth,
and geographic distribution of various racial population groups. The data will
be used to monitor compliance with the anti-discrimination provisions of laws
such as the Voting Rights Act and the Civil Rights Act.
Why is
there a question about LGBTQ?
On the
2020 Census, you’ll have the option to identify a relationship as same-sex –
informing community planning for families and providing vital statistics to
advocates and policymakers who work on LGBTQ+ issues.
The
U.S. Census Bureau is taking extra steps in 2020 to reach everyone.
Children
Newborn
babies and young children under five are often missed in the census. But census
results help determine which areas qualify for the critical resources,
including food assistance, Head Start, childcare, public schools, children’s
health insurance and more. That’s why every child should be counted.
Homeless
Census
takers work with shelters, meal centers, group homes and other places where the
homeless receive services to make sure everyone is counted. Many libraries and
community centers have public computers available for homeless persons to
respond online.
People
with disabilities
2020Census.gov
is a 508-compliant website accessible to people with blindness or low vision,
deafness or hearing loss, learning disabilities, cognitive limitations, limited
movement, photosensitivity, and various combinations of these.
My
fellow Democrats, I encourage you to take the following steps, to make sure
there is an accurate census count in Downers Grove Township.
·
Distribute information about the 2020 Census on
your social media accounts, in your newsletters, and on your websites.
·
Publicize the 2020 Census and encourage the public
to respond.
·
Encourage your friends and neighbors to respond
to the census online, by phone, or by mail. Remind them to count everyone
living in their home even if they are not related.
·
Emphasize that the 2020 Census is safe and
secure.
·
Correct misinformation or disinformation on
social media accounts. You can report misinformation and disinformation at rumors@census.gov.
The
2020 Census will influence funding for community services for the next 10
years. Census data will determine where billions of dollars are spent each year
for libraries, community centers, Medicare/Medicaid, hospitals, and schools.
Your community counts on you to respond to the 2020 Census. Be Counted!
Learn
more at https://2020census.gov/
