It’s more than a headcount.
The 2020 census will change America forever.
It’s been a long time since a census got the kind of coverage that the 2020 census has received in the media. This had a lot to do with President Trump announcing that there would be a question regarding citizenship for the first time in the history of the census. This question was eventually stricken down, meaning that citizens and non-citizens alike would be eligible for participation in the census survey this year. The reality is that the census should be a big deal every time it rolls around – controversy or not! A lot is riding on the results of the census. Here are some reasons why this 2020 census is so important:
The census numbers impact congressional seats and boundaries.
Early projections show that 4 states are expected to gain congressional seats while 4 are scheduled to lose congressional seats after the 2020 census numbers are in. These numbers also determine congressional district borders and alignment, so they have an impact on who represents whom throughout the country.
Federal and state aid is largely based on the census.
When it comes to deciding who gets financial help from things like government grants, the census plays a huge part. From Medicare to highway repairs, the census determines where tax money and grant money is spent. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, approximately 132 government programs relied on census numbers to determine the allocation of about $675 billion in funding in 2015 alone.
Businesses plan around the results.
Businesses can access census results and use it to forecast growth in a region. This is a huge part of many businesses’ decisions to move to a new location or stay where they are. The impacts on the local economy are obvious, and an inaccurate census could skew the financial impact of these important decisions.
Health programs depend on these numbers.
If the government sees a spike or decrease in the occurrence of certain medical conditions in a region based on census numbers, then they will elect to increase or diminish funding for programs around those conditions in that area. This can have a huge impact on the well-being of that region.
The census directly impacts Social Security.
When the government assesses the cost of Social Security, it looks at how many people will be born in an area versus how many people are expected to pass in that area during the same period. If the numbers are wrong now, the impact will be felt for years to come until the numbers are accurate.
McGregor is passionate about the accuracy of this year’s census. It’s important to us because of funding, but it’s also important to the democratic process in our state and country. Contact McGregor to learn more!
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