The 2020 census is in full swing throughout the country, and Mississippi is no exception. In March, the census bureau mailed questionnaires to each household asking questions, such as the number of people in the home, age and race to get a count of the number of people.
The census, which is performed every 10 years, is mandated by the constitution. The data the census collects is used to determine federal funding for more than $400 billion across 120 different programs from Temporary Assistance for Needy Families to Rural Hospital Grants.
Rep. Randy Rushing, R-Decatur, said the census has a much bigger impact on their communities than most people realize.
“I cannot emphasize how important it is to get an accurate count,” he said.
In addition to allocating billions in road and bridge funding, special assistance programs to elderly and low income residents and helping thousands of non-profits develop and offer programs, Rushing said the census also has a direct effect on communities’ representation at the state and federal level.
“Our senate, representatives and even our local county supervisor lines are based on census information,” he said.
In December, the U.S. Census Bureau will report its findings to Congress, and beginning in 2021, a national, state and local redistricting will take place based on the numbers represented.
As of April 28, the Census Bureau reported 50.1 percent of Mississippi households had responded to the census questionnaire either by mail or online at census.gov. Newton County households were slightly above the state response rate and neighboring counties with 51.3 percent responding; however the county was still behind the 2010 response rate of 60 percent.
Rushing said he had heard some residents’ voice concerns about the privacy of the census, and he wanted to assure them it does not collect personal information.
“I have filled it out, and I encourage all residents, if they haven’t already, to fill out the census,” he said.
For more information or to participate in the 2020 census, visit www.census.gov, or visit https://mscensus2020.org/ for more information about local census efforts and initiatives.
