Some worry that an early end to the 2020 Census will not count all Oregonians

(AUGUST 7, 2020) The United States conducts a census every 10 years. A census is the official count of the people who live in the country. The information is very important because it is used by the government to allocate both representation in the federal legislature as well as federal funding.

This year, people could respond to the census online or by mail. When people do not respond, then census workers are sent to conduct interviews in person.

The U.S. Census Bureau recently announced that it would end the 2020 Census one month early. Some people believe this will cause problems. They say it will make it more difficult to reach people of color, rural communities, people who rent, and other groups. The coronavirus pandemic makes it difficult to contact people in person, so the shorter timeline expands the problem.

Furthermore, according to Oregon Public Broadcasting, "President Donald Trump signed an order last month that would exclude undocumented immigrants from the census count. That [order] is being challenged in court, and legal experts say the order is unlikely to withstand a legal challenge." So more time is needed for the census to be thorough and complete.

The Census Bureau says about 65% of Oregonians have responded. Esperanza Tervalon-Garrett is a campaign manager for We Count Oregon. She believes millions of people were not counted in the 2010 census. She wants to make sure that they are counted now in 2020. She wants to make sure that Oregon receives its fair share of federal funding and political representation.

The organization's website says, "You, your family, and your community count. Being counted directly correlates to political representation and access to private and public resources. Being counted translates to dollars for your kid’s school district, representation of your issues at the local and state level, and critical public services like roads, hospitals, community centers, services for families of colors, children, LGBTQ [Lesbian, Gay, Bi, Trans, and Queer] programs, and emergency services. You count – share your voice – complete the 2020 Census."

People can complete the census online at https://2020census.gov/