Are you abiding by the #StayatHome mandate (please say yes)? Bored yet? Here’s something to do that will only cost you about 10 minutes: Take the Census!
The United States Constitution mandates that the U.S. Census be taken every 10 years. The data collected:
Is About Money: The data collected in the Census dictates where how much of billions of federal funds will be distributed to state and local governments. The money gets used for things such as:
- Healthy Food
- Parks
- Family Services
- Roads
- Housing
- Economic Opportunities
- Schools
- Family Services
- Safety
- And, one of the most important things—to make sure your voice is heard.
Is About Fair Representation: Census counts are used to reapportion the number of seats each state gets in the House of Representatives.
Is A Civic Duty: Although participation in the Census is mandatory, it’s also personal. It’s a way to participate in democracy and let the federal government know you are here, and you’re not just a number.
Is About Redistricting: As the population shifts (which is shown in the Census data), congressional and state legislative district boundaries are redrawn so that the number of people represented per district is fair and proportional.
Is Confidential: Your responses to the questions are protected under Federal law: Your answers can only be used for statistics, not anything else.
Is NOT about getting in your business: It’s about representation. Although the federal government does the counting, here on the ground in California we need make sure we are all counted.
It doesn’t matter if you do it online, over the phone, or if you fill out the paper form that was mailed to you during the week of March 12–20. Available in 13 languages, the Census is a simple, nine-question survey with questions that include your name, address, sex, race, ethnicity, age, and whether you rent or own your home. Make sure you count everyone in your home, including family members and friends who stay with you most of the time. Also, make sure you self-identify yourself in regard to race, ethnicity, and gender.
Beware of Scams. Cons are posing as Census takers and trying to get your personal identification. Remember, Census Bureau representatives will never:
Ask about your citizenship status, or for sensitive information like your social security number, bank accounts, or payments/donations.
- Reach out to you on behalf of a political party.
- Use your responses for law enforcement purposes, to determine eligibility for government benefits or immigration enforcement.
Think about it. Out of the approximately 327.2 million people in the United States, California has far and away the largest population—39.56 million. Out of all those people, our voices need to be heard.
We are all California.
You count. You exist. Make sure you’re not ignored.
For more information, answers to FAQs, and more, visit the California All website.
BONUS: Watch the latest California Census television ad below, now airing in English, Spanish, Chinese, Korean, Hmong, Cambodian, Vietnamese, Russian, Persian, and Armenian.
