“What’s the point of the Census?”, you may be asking. Well, the Census has many functions, but one of the main functions is to count the total population of all persons currently residing in the U.S. This count is then used to determine how many representatives each state should have in the House of Representatives, and also helps to decide how billions of dollars in federal funding for local communities will be allocated. Beyond that, the Census is also one of the most critical reference tools in understanding the demographic make-up of the country.
The first US Census took place in 1790, and originally only included six questions for each household. The Census may have had humble beginnings, but now it is a massive undertaking for the federal government and the biggest peace-time mobilization of federal workers, who are tasked with gathering information from around 330 million people.
So what do I need to do?
If you are a student living in a university residence, you don’t need to do anything. You will be counted automatically by the university in partnership with Census 2020 directly. If you live off-campus, or commute from another community, there are several ways you can participate:
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Go online to 2020census.gov
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Respond to the invitation mailed to your address
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Wait for a census-taker to visit your residence
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You can even answer by phone!
There’s no wrong way to be counted - just make sure that you’re counted!
Please note: the Census should be completed based on where you are living at the time when you complete it. If you are living in Ann Arbor (or another student community) on Census Day (April 1), please complete the Census as an Ann Arbor resident. s.
For more specific information and FAQs, please visit: https://ginsberg.umich.edu/article/census-2020-be-counted
Author: Robert Connolly