By BRENT MARTIN
St. Joseph Post
COVID-19 has had a wide-ranging effect on the country, even on the effort to count all of us.
The Census Bureau had to pull counters from the field when restrictions were imposed to fight the spread of the coronavirus. It also prompted an extension for people to respond on their own, primarily online or by telephone.
Census Bureau Regional Director Marilyn Sanders says you have through the end of October to self-report.
“The self-response phase will extend through October 31st,” Sanders tells St. Joseph Post. “So, you can respond to the Census now, even during this most unprecedented time in our country. The Census is moving forward and you can respond now.”
At present, just under 61% of Americans have responded. That number is slightly better in Missouri and significantly better in Kansas, where nearly 65% have responded. Minnesota leads the nation in response and of cities with a population of at least 250,000, Lincoln, Nebraska leads the nation in response with nearly 73% of its residents already answering the questionnaire.
Sanders says the coronavirus pandemic has slowed the progress of the Census to count everyone in 2020. Sanders says COVID-19 restrictions prompted widespread changes in its operation.
“We have retooled our training. We have rescheduled some operations to start later when it is safe for us to do so,” according to Sanders.
Census counters will soon be back out in the field.
Sanders says the count is important, because so much hinges on state populations.
“The most important reason is of course Congressional representation and reapportionment,” Sanders says. “However, Census data informs so many decisions that are made throughout our nation and will inform those decisions for the next 10 years.”
Census numbers determine how $675 billion dollars in federal funds are distributed.