Opinion

The importance of filling out the 2020 Census

By MAGGIE HASSAN
By Maggie Hassan

Amid the health and economic challenges of a global pandemic, filling out the 2020 census may not be the first thing on your mind. However, taking just a few minutes to participate in this year’s census by the end of this month will have an important impact on the North Country and communities across New Hampshire.

An accurate and thorough census count is vital to our economy and our democracy. The census helps ensure that federal dollars are fairly distributed to communities across the country to help them invest in services like schools, children’s health care, hospitals, public safety, infrastructure, and public transportation. A recent study showed that data from the census is responsible for determining how an estimated $1.5 trillion in federal funding is spent. We must make sure that New Hampshire communities get a fair share of this funding. The results of the census also determine political representation in Congress – and in Concord. If everyone isn’t counted, the North Country could have fewer representatives fighting for its interests in the State House.

The census count is only taken every 10 years, and an undercount could result in communities receiving fewer essential resources in the years to come. Unfortunately, the COVID-19 pandemic has limited the in-person outreach that the Census Bureau usually does to make people aware of the urgent need to complete their census and assist them with filling it out.

In New Hampshire, rural areas are particularly at risk of being undercounted. In this census to date, rural areas, including the North Country, have had a lower response rate than other areas in our state. Thankfully, there is still time to change that.

To help ensure that the North Country gets its fair share of federal support, I encourage you to fill out your census today.

Completing the census is quick, easy, and secure. It can be done online, over the phone, or by mail, and all responses are confidential. In the past few months, the Census Bureau mailed invitations to participate in the 2020 census. These invitations include a 12-digit Census ID for respondents to use when completing the census online at 2020census.gov.

If your access to the internet is limited, you can respond by calling 1-844-330-2020 or fill out a paper questionnaire. You should make sure to complete it prior to Sept. 30.

Taking a few minutes to participate in the 2020 census will pay dividends for our communities, and it will help ensure that the North Country receives the federal resources it needs and deserves.

For more information on the 2020 census, how to respond, and how to be counted, please visit 2020census.gov or call 1-844-330-2020.

Sen. Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.) was elected to the U.S. Senate in 2016 and served as the 81st governor of New Hampshire.

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