East Kentucky Is Participating in the 2020 U.S. Census During COVID-19
1 May 2020
Results of the U.S. Census determines how billions of federal dollars are allocated every year. One East Kentucky encourages the residents of Eastern Kentucky to participate in the Census to ensure that the region receives critical funding. While COVID-19 has caused business disruptions, the Census is still ongoing and important to our community.
U.S. Census: The Impact
The U.S. Census is conducted in the United States every 10 years. The Census aims to count the entire population of the United States. The Census asks American households certain questions such as sex, age, and race of each person in the household. These demographics help determine congressional representation and how much funding each state, county, and community will receive of $675 billion per year in federal funding.
The U.S. Census data is also very helpful for businesses and developers. Businesses can use Census data to decide the best place for them to locate their business. This data allows business owners to pinpoint the very best area for their business to be as successful as possible. Developers can use this data to help revitalize areas of the country.
Changes to Data Gathering During COVID-19
The Census data is usually collected via in-person house calls by people collecting the Census data. However, since the outbreak and spread of the Covid-19 virus, the U.S. Census Bureau has had to stop all door-to-door transactions. The Census Bureau has also halted all in-person activities for their staff. This includes all office work and processing activities. They have increased their call center capacity with employees working from home to gather the Census data.
So, what does this mean for the 2020 U.S. Census? It means that residents of Eastern Kentucky will have to use other means of sharing their household data. People can fill out their Census information online, via phone, or by mail self-responses throughout the collection process.
The collection process was originally scheduled to from March 12, 2020, to July 31, 2020. Due to the Covid-19 crisis, the U.S. Census Bureau has extended the deadline to October 31, 2020. In-person house calls are postponed until July 1, 2020. The Census data is now rescheduled to be complete and delivered to the President of the United States by April 30, 2021.
Ways to Complete the Census
Most households received an invitation to respond to the 2020 Census between March 12-20, 2020. Each household is also given a Census ID that will need to be input when completing the online Census. Households who wish to fill out the Census online should visit my2020Census.gov. Households can also mail in their responses or call 844-330-2020 to complete the Census via phone.