While the world is focused on the coronavirus, the United States and Marion County in particular have something else going on which is also important: the U.S. census.
The census has done every 10 years since 1790 in accordance with the Constitution, and results from the count determine how federal dollars are divided.
A lot of money is at stake with $675 million annually in federal funding received per each city and county with dollars spent on schools, hospitals, roads, public works and other public programs.
As of April 1, Marion County has a self-response rate of 40.4% and the state has a total self-response rate of 41.5%.
The census bureau predicts a 60.5% finals national response rate compared with 63.5% in 2010, according to a report in the Wall Street Journal. If residents don't respond, then the census bureau sends out workers to follow up, and if that fails, the bureau also uses a statistical process called "imputation" to make estimates about how many people live in a residence.
But those follow-up steps are more expensive to taxpayers than residents self-reporting their information.
Shuntasia Coleman, Mississippi partnership specialist, said with people being home because of the coronavirus, the time is perfect to go online and complete the form.
Results also determine the division of seats in the U.S. House of Representatives. There are 435 members in the House, and the representatives are divided based on the population of each state. Mississippi retained the same number of representatives, four, at the last count in 2010 and is expected to do so again after 2020.
For the first time in history the census can be done completely online, or you can still use the paper forms mailed to residents. The process takes less than 10 minutes to complete. It is actually the law to complete the numbers. The answers are private and confidential. Title 13 of the U.S. Code prohibits the answers in the questionnaire to be used against you by any government or court as long as the answers are truthful. While the overall results will be published, personal responses will not be released.
There is no danger in completing the questionnaire; it does not determine anyone’s Social Security or disability funding as some people believe, Marion County Circuit Clerk Janette Nolan said at the Board of Supervisors meeting March 16. Also, the census bureau, after a large national debate about the issue, did not include a citizenship question on the 2020 forms.
“Completing the census can only help you and the county,” Nolan said.
Most residences have received something in the mail from the census. On the front page is a barcode with a 12 character/number combination underneath. To complete the questionnaire online go to my2020census.gov and enter the combination listed under the barcode. It will take you to a screen that confirms the physical address and takes you step by step through the process.
For questions, call (844) 330-2020.
