Census 2020: Stand up and be counted

Start watching your mailboxes folks for the 2020 Census. Please pay attention to the request since providing the information will give you the opportunity to possibly change a lot in our city, county, state and country.

The U.S. Census Bureau conducts a nationwide count every 10 years and the 2020 Census is an important way to support our community. You will receive a form in the mail. You may answer in the mail or the phone, the census website or in person to canvassers.

The results of the census impact and create consequences for everyone. The count helps determine the number of seats each state has in the U.S. House of Representatives and some districts may gain or lose a representative.

If you don’t help by providing your data, our area could be impacted in a negative way.

With your information, we might gain representation or at last keep the same number.

The facts are used in planning roads, schools, hospitals and health needs.

Our region has benefited with our improved highways. Not only is travel safer for area residents, but better highways and roads have created a pathway for industry to move into our area. We are seeing the benefits with new industry creating more jobs.

While area residents have approved taxes for roads, we’ve received grants to assist us and make your local money go further. If the facts are incorrect, we could not continue to benefit.

Having the accurate count is crucial. The facts will be used to determine many things, like forecasting housing needs, services for people in poverty, designing public safety strategies and estimating the number who will be displaced by natural disasters, and we seem to have our share in this area.

If you don’t respond, it may mean we will not get the right amount of help when the next flood or tornado hits our area. You or your neighbors might not be able to get assistance to help through a tragedy.

The list goes on and on about what is determined by the census figures. I could fill this whole page, but the bottom line is your decision to complete or not to complete the forms will impact everyone. Please choose to make a positive result.

Census planners say a large portion of Butler, Dunklin and Wayne counties and all of Ripley County are considered hard to count.

Neighbors, let’s prove them wrong.

When the census arrives in your mailbox, take care of it immediately.

If you need help, ask a friend to help. Please stand up and be counted. They want everyone, no matter your income, if you live in town or the county, if you are a homeowner or a renter - you have a voice. Now is the time to share it.

Census officials tabulate the data, but your personal information is not released for decades. Information from the 1940 Census will be released to the public this year.

If you choose to not supply the information, a Census worker will be by to see you. Please choose to make a positive decision and be counted.

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Horton can be reached at bhorton@darnews.com .