Empowering Voters - Defending Democracy
Census2020
Census 2020
What is the Census?
Census Explained
The U.S. Constitution requires that each decade we take a count - or a census of the America's population.
The census counts every person living in the U.S. once, only once and in the right place.
What Will Be Asked?
The census provides vital information for you and your community.
- it determines how many representatives each state gets in congress and is used to
redraw district boundaries. Redistricting counts are sent to the state by March 31, 2021.
- Communities rely on census statistics to plan a variety of resident needs including
new roads, schools and emergency services.
- Businesses use census data to determine where to open places to shop.
- Each year, the federal government distributes hundreds of billions of dollars to each
state and communities based on Census Bureau data.
Article I, Section 2 of the US Constitution mandates the count of all persons living in the US every 10 years. The Census Bureau must count everyone and submit state population totals to the US president by December 31 of each census year. Responding to the Census is also required by Title 13 of the United States Code, the same law that guarantees the privacy of your responses.
- How many people are living or staying at your home on April 1, 2020.
More Information
- Whether the home is owned or rented.
- About the sex of each person in the household.
- About the age of each person in the household.
- About the race of each person in the household.
- about whether a person in the household is Hispanic, Latino or Spanish origin.
- About the relationship of each person in the household to one central person.
The Census Bureau will NEVER
ask for:
- Your Social Security number.
- About money or donations.
- Anything on behalf of a political party.
- Your bank or credit card account numbers.
Your personal information is kept confidential. The census Bureau is bound by federal law to protect your information, and your data are used only for statistical purposes. By law, the Census Bureau cannot share respondent answers with the FBI, the CIA, Welfare Immigration or even the President of the United States.
How are Colorado Counts Used?
Colorado Department of Local Affairs (DOLA) has useful information about the importance ofaccurate census information to our state.
- The 2020 Census counts are used for reapportionment - the process of redistributing
How The Census Bureau Will Invites Everyone to Participate
seats in the House of Representatives to each state based on Census counts. The
distribution of congressional representatives impacts your voice in Congress. It is
estimated based on current trends that Colorado could gain an additional congressional
seat.
- Census 2020 counts are used for redistricting. Redistricting draws boundaries within
each state for voting and representation. Redistricting occurs for the U.S. House of
Representative districts, State House and State Senate Districts, county commissioners,
City Councils and other local governments.
- Census data affects the distribution of federal funds to your community. It is estimated
that $13.1 billion dollars (which translates to $2,300 per person) are allocated to Colorado
annually based on decennial census statistics.
- An accurate Census count is essential for our state. The federal state and local governments,
businesses, nonprofits and foundations, routinely rely on data from the Census to allocate
funding, define where services are delivered, promote economic development and understand
current conditions.
LWV Adams County Actions
LWVUS has asked local leagues to participate with state and local communities to assure complete counting. For example by helping to identify communities that are likely to be under counted.
LWV Adams County has joined with the County Clerk to develop outreach activities in our county. We will be sponsoring a program on the Census during our regular meeting on January 13, 2020 at 6:30pm
