2020 Census Continues

2020 CENSUS CONTINUES

Have you been counted? Don’t forget that COVID-19 is not stopping the 2020 U.S. Census. For the first time ever, you can fill out the U.S. Census online at https://my2020census.gov/.

Last month, the U.S. Census Bureau mailed out postcards with a code for residents to fill out the census online. If you don’t have a code, you can still fill out the census online using your home address. It takes less than 10 minutes to fill out the Census online. Citizens can also complete their census over the phone by calling 844-330-2020. If residents don’t fill out the census online or by phone they will be mailed a paper form this month.

Filling out the form online, by phone or mail will help lessen the number of census workers who have to go door-to-door amid the virus outbreak.

The federal government uses census data to allocate billions of dollars for programs like Medicare/Medicaid, transportation funding, federal research and more. The Census also determines Oklahoma’s representation in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Every household that does not complete the census will cost our community $1,675.00 per year over the next 10 years. In 2010, Oklahoma had the second-lowest participation rate in the country, and an undercount of only 2% could cost our state as much as $1.8 billion in funding.

It is important to remember that individual census data is confidential and won’t be shared. Thus far, the national response rate is only 47.9%, and Ponca City is nearing the halfway point at 49.8%.  That means thousands of local households remain uncounted at this time.