Census 2020 is exceedingly important for all in Montgomery County, Indiana as well as the rest of the nation. The United States Constitution calls for a census to be conducted in our country every 10 years. Census taking has been done since 1792 .The national count is vital to each of us because its results determines how many representatives each state send to Congress. Indiana currently has nine Congressional districts. While this is not expected to change, it could — based on census data.
Census numbers also determine how much federal moneys go to states and to localities. Overall, $675 billion annual are distributed to the states. Currently, Indiana receives nearly $18 billion a year. Federal dollars fund things from highways to student loans, SNAP food programs to career and technical training programs. Federal dollars help with water and sewer upgrades and dozens of farm programs. Federal dollars pay for free and reduced lunches in schools, for special educations programs, pay for PELL Grants, the CHIP health program and much more.
Programs such as Medicaid, highway planning and construction, special education grants and the National School Lunch program all depend on accurate census. These 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.
Businesses use census data to decide whether they want to establish themselves in a community, and census data helps decide where new roads are built. The 2020 Census data will determine what our communities will look like over the next decade. So it is important that everyone be counted so the correct amount of funding reaches Montgomery County.
Detailed population information is critical for emergency response in wake of disasters. First respondents and disaster relief personnel use census data to identify where and how much help is needed. Similarly, demographic details form census assist epidemiologists and public health personnel in everything from tracking disease outbreaks to combatting the opiod epidemic to improving child health.
Have you completely your census form? If you opened the letter from the Census Bureau and followed directions to fill out Census 2020 online or by phone, Congratulations.
If that letter (or a second one of third one addressed to “Resident”) is still sitting on the table, open it now and take Census 2020 online (my2020census.gov) or 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. Considering how census data is so important in helping our public officials keep all of us safer right now, consider it your patriotic duty to our shared futures.
The League of Women Voters, open to men as well as women, is a nonpartisan, multi-issue political organization which encourages informed and active participation in government, works to increase understanding of major policy issues and influences public policy through education and advocacy. For information about the League, visit the website: www.lwvmontcoin.org or send a message to LWV, P.O. Box 101, Crawfordsville, IN 47933.
