Stand Up and Be Counted: April 1 Is Census Day
(INDIANAPOLIS) – Today is Census Day — and nearly two-thirds of us haven’t filled out the form yet.
April 1 isn’t a deadline — the census will mail another round of printed forms in a couple of weeks, and census workers will go in the field later this year. But April 1 is the point of reference: when you fill out the form, you list the number of people in your household as of that date.
The population count affects nearly $700 billion in federal funding for the states, from schools to housing to food stamps. Indianapolis Urban League president and Count Me INdy co-chair Tony Mason points out it’ll be the official count for the next 10 years — he says every person who goes uncounted costs the local community $30,000 in federal funds.
The count also determines how district lines are redrawn next year for seats in the U.S. House and the Indiana General Assembly. Some states will gain or lose seats in Congress based on the count, though Indiana is expected to hold steady at nine House seats.
Count Me INdy had to cancel a string of planned public census events because of the coronavirus
pandemic. The group is still pursuing advertising and social media campaigns. And Mason points out it’s the first year the census can be completed online. Since you’re sitting at home anyway, he says, it’s something you can take care of in 10 minutes.
Mason notes your responses stay confidential by law until 2092. The Census Bureau can’t share your info with police, immigration, or anyone else. But you do want to beware of scammers. The real census contacts you by mail, and will again if you haven’t responded. It’ll never email you, and it won’t ask for your Social Security, credit card, or bank account numbers.
