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The Hartwell Sun
With the new decade starting, it’s time for residents of Hart County to participate in the decennial event of the census. The 2020 Census will provide an online method to make sure you are accounted for.
The purpose of the census is to count every person who lives in the United States and its territories. The census is mandated in the U.S. Constitution and has been conducted every 10 years since 1790.
The United States Census will first send an invitation to respond to the survey online between March 12 -20. The invitation will include instructions on where and how to access the surveys online. After the initial invitation, they will send two reminders through the mail. If the survey is not completed online, the bureau will send a paper questionnaire by April 8-16. A final reminder will be sent by the end of April. If you still haven’t completed the survey, a census taker will come to your residence.
The census will seek basic information about people such as name, age, race and relationship to other members of the household. The responses to the census are protected by federal law and cannot be used against you by any government agency or court in any way. The census will never ask for Social Security numbers, bank or credit card numbers, money or donations, or anything related to political parties.
Data collected will be used to redraw legislative districts and
determine the number of seats a state has in the U.S. House of Representatives. It also gives community leaders information to make decisions about building community centers, opening businesses and planning for the future. The data ensures that more than $675 billion in federal money and grants are sent to the right places, information provided by the Census Bureau states. This money is spent on schools, hospitals, roads, public works and other programs.
The census aims to count people where they are currently residing. Count yourself at a new address if you moved in by April 1, 2020. If you are renting, count yourself at where you live. If you are a college student not in a dorm, count yourself at your off-campus address. Service members should be counted where they live, on or off base, if they don’t live in military barracks or are deployed or stationed outside the U.S. Census Bureau employees will work with a representative from your building if you live in one of the following: college dorm, military barracks, nursing home, group homes, shelters, psychiatric facilities or correctional facilities.
For more information on the 2020 Census, visit 2020census.gov. If you want to apply for a job as a census taker, visit 2020census.gov/jobs or call 1-855-562-2020.