The big issues of 2020 were slated to be the presidential election and the once-in-a decade national census, both fixtures in our democratic society from our country’s earliest days. Now the coronavirus pandemic has changed all that and our attention is on hand sanitizer, social distancing and whether there will be apples at the grocery store.
We must pay attention to new guidelines that are keeping us as safe and healthy under these changed circumstances as we can be. This does not mean, though, as residents of the United States, we ignore our important democratic processes. Right now officials all across the nation are working to be sure voting can be done in this challenging time. The same thing is true with Census2020 — which is now largely in our hands.
During the last couple of weeks, your household will have received mailings from the Census Bureau. If you opened the letter and followed directions to fill out Census 2020 online or by phone, Congratulations! You and your household have been counted.
If that letter (or a second one or the third one addressed to “Resident”) is still sitting on the table, open it now and take Census 2020 online (my2020census.gov) or on the phone (for English speakers: 844-330-2020; for Spanish speakers: 844-468-2020). Clear directions are provided and it takes no more than 10 minutes to complete.
Census 2020 collects only names and ages and ethnic identity. There is no citizenship question. Census 2020 does not ask for your social security number or your bank account number. Even the basic data that is collected is completely sealed by the Census Bureau for 72 years. No individual data is ever released to other government departments or to law enforcement.
Why is it necessary to count us and why does it matter so much that the count be as accurate as possible?
Our democracy depends on having those numerical totals for two vital reasons: Census numbers determine how many representatives each state sends to Congress; and, crucial to communities and, especially, to individuals, those numbers determine how much federal money goes to states and to localities. Programs such as Medicaid, highway planning and construction, special education grants, and the National School Lunch program all depend on an accurate census. Those are all essential programs and speak of how a nation takes care of itself and thrives. If the residents of any one county are undercounted, programs cannot be fully funded. Here in late March 2020, with the coronavirus pandemic tearing through our nation, it is vital for us to know that census data has helped counties like Montgomery County to have proper resources on hand for emergency response.
Detailed population information is critical for emergency response in the wake of disasters. First respondents and disaster relief personnel use census data to identify where and how much help is needed. Similarly, demographic details from the census assist epidemiologists and public health personnel in everything from tracking disease outbreaks to combatting the opioid epidemic, to improving child health. Our first rate level of preparedness here in our county is making us safer right now.
Never has Montgomery County’s preparedness been more important and more in the spotlight than now. Thanks to emergency preparedness systems being in place throughout our infrastructure, we have gotten updates and guidelines from our highly competent health department, information has been accurately shared, and our public health staff and emergency management teams are at the ready. They are making further preparations each day as this crisis unfolds.
At the national level, we also see, census data in action: FEMA leaders stand beside public officials giving guidelines. Where help goes and how it’s deployed depends on how communities (based partly on census counts), have prepared themselves.
Given this information, please do fill out your Census2020 form now if you haven’t. We know it’s the law. And, considering how census data is helping our public officials keep all of us safer right now, consider it your patriotic duty to our shared futures.
