In only a few weeks, the U.S. Census Bureau will begin sending invitations for households to participate in its 2020 Census count of every person living in the United States. The census is a critical opportunity for rural Oklahomans to step up and be counted to ensure the future growth and prosperity of rural communities.
The census is your opportunity to stand with rural Oklahoma.
Responding to the census fulfills your civic duty because the count is mandated by the U.S. Constitution. But completing the 2020 Census also is your chance to take pride in the rural way of life. A complete and accurate count of our population will provide a snapshot of who we are, where we live and so much more.
The census helps bring funding to rural communities.
The results from the census, conducted every 10 years, help determine how billions of dollars in federal funds flow into states and communities each year for things such as hospitals, fire departments, schools, roads and many other resources. In fact, your community can receive an estimated $1,675 per year per person counted over the next 10 years. The census also provides key information to business owners who are making decisions about where to open new stores, where to expand operations and which products and services to offer.
The census influences our representation in Congress and the state Legislature.
Every 10 years, Oklahoma legislative district lines are redrawn according to population data from the census. The census responses also determine the number of seats Oklahoma has in the U.S. House of Representatives. An accurate count of all rural Oklahoma will help ensure it receives the representation it deserves.
It’s quick and easy to complete.
For the first time ever, you will have the option to respond to the census online at 2020Census.gov. Though responding by phone or by mail will still be options, the Census Bureau will be encouraging participants to complete the questionnaire online. The 2020 Census contains only a handful of simple questions including age, sex, race and the number of people living in your home, including children. When completing the census, you will include everyone living in your home on April 1.
It’s safe and secure.
When you respond to the census, your answers are kept anonymous. They are used only to produce statistics. The U.S. Census Bureau is bound by law to protect your answers and keep them strictly confidential. The law ensures that your private information is never published and that your answers cannot be used against you by any government agency or court. The census will never ask for your Social Security number, bank or credit card numbers, money or donations, or anything related to political parties. For more information about the 2020 Census, visit www.2020Census.gov.
By April 1, 2020, every household will receive an invitation to respond to online, by phone or by mail. Find more information on the 2020 Census website or the OKFB website.
