Please Fill It Out the Census: Ohio’s Well-Being Depends on It

Wed 4/1-

April 1, 2020 is National Census Day. A lot of events were being planned to make people aware of the importance of filling out the census form. Obviously those won’t take place. Originally, for instance, the Cleveland Public Library, the Cuyahoga County Public Library, and the county’s seven independent library systems were going to offer the opportunity to come to your local library branch and do it, with help available from library staff. But currently, all libraries are closed.

Most of you should have received your census “invitation” in the mail, urging you to respond by mail, by phone or online as soon as possible, with April 1 the target date to get as many people responded as possible. Do it!

You may have heard all sorts of lurid rumors about the census and what it’s used for. Just stop it. None of those are true.

Some of those rumors are being passed around by people who have too much time to spend online hyping conspiracy theories. But some of them are scaring people, such as immigrants, undocumented and otherwise, who have reason to fear the reach of the government. Voters in the black community and communities in poverty have their own reasons for distrust. When asked how many people live in their household (the most essential fact in making sure everyone is counted), they may omit someone who isn’t living there “legally” or sadly, neglect to include very young children, the most undercounted group and one of the most impacted by an undercount, since the census is the basis for allocating government resources and essential services that benefit them.

Other people may be overlooked because of a language barrier, although the census can be answered online or by phone in 13 languages — even Haitian Creole! Web pages and guides are available in 59 languages, including American Sign Language, Braille and large print.

It helps the census bureau if as many people as possible respond before April 1. Originally census workers were then going to spend April-July contacting people who had not yet responded, visiting college campus, senior centers and other group living situations in April, and homes May through July. That schedule has been pushed back; stay tuned.

The census figures need to be compiled by December so that redistricting counts can be sent to states by March 31, 2021 for congressional redistricting purposes. That points to another essential reason to get everyone counted. It’s predicted that Ohio could lose a congressional seat — and much of the uncounted population that could make that happen is likely to be in dense urban areas with high poverty pockets. That would weaken their electoral power and Ohio’s voice in Congress. It’s understandably hard to convince people this information won’t be shared with housing or immigration authorities — but it won’t. And counting everyone, including babies and undocumented people, adds to the electoral strength that will lead to more humane immigration laws, health care for those babies, food access and more.

Individuals are not identified by the census bureau, which is only looking for statistics. Sadly, the current climate of distrust that has been spread through our country like wildfire — distrust of media, government, science, education, facts in general — presents a challenging environment for the 2020 census where individuals with nothing to fear may feel like refusing to participate in the census is a way to give the finger to “the government.” No, it’s only like sticking a finger in your own eye.

Go here for more information.

www.census.gov

 

Post categories:

Leave a Reply

[fbcomments]