Extending the US Census

[lpetrich]

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez on Twitter: "We need to extend the Census counting period ASAP.
The 2020 Census determines community funding for the next 10 years. COVID hit right when surveys went out.
Upcoming stages include in-person enumerators going door to door(!!!). We need to give people more time. https://t.co/4GKM2PF971" / Twitter
noting
Julian Brave NoiseCat on Twitter: ""This crisis has only underscored the need for an accurate count - so that resources can be appropriately and quickly distributed in an emergency." - @AOC with new polling on the 2020 census for the @DataProgress blog: https://t.co/NKe5pUsODn" / Twitter
noting
2020 Census Operational Adjustments Due to COVID-19

The 2020 Census is underway and households across America are responding every day. In light of the COVID-19 outbreak, the U.S. Census Bureau has adjusted 2020 Census operations in order to:

• Protect the health and safety of Census employees and the American public.
• Implement guidance from federal, state, and local health authorities.
• Ensure a complete and accurate count of all communities.

The table below summarizes the adjustments to operations. Should any additional adjustment become necessary, the Census Bureau will promptly publish the change in an updated document.

Part of the census effort is the self-response phase. "The public is strongly encouraged to respond online. (Options for responding by phone or mail are also available.)"

It currently goes March 12 - July 31, but because of the virus, its deadline has been extended two weeks to August 14.

Voters Support Extending the Census to Ensure an Accurate Count by Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.

COVID-19 has revealed stark inequities in our society. My district, which is overwhelmingly working-class and one of the most diverse in the country, is also one of the districts hardest hit by the virus. The neighborhood of Corona, Queens has the highest number of positive COVID-19 tests of any zip code in the country. Bronx residents are twice as likely to die from the virus than other New York City residents.

This inequity is about to be compounded by an inaccurate Census. The U.S. Census Bureau has suspended all fieldwork until April 15, and likely will have to suspend further. Self-reporting is currently down across the country compared to 2010 – even though people can now complete the Census online for the first time. In Corona, Queens, less than 20 percent of people have self-reported - compared to 46 percent nationwide. Despite this, the Trump administration has only delayed the deadline for the Census by two weeks.

Then about how Data for Progress polled people with this question:

The Census which is supposed to be an accurate measure of every person living in the United States is currently underway. Some experts have raised concerns that the coronavirus outbreak could disrupt the Census. Would you support extending the Census in order to ensure an accurate count?

Overall people proposed extending the Census by 78% for, 10% against, a 68% margin. Democrats support it by a 79% margin and Republicans by a 62% margin.

AOC has also done:
2020 Census PSA With Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Lin-Manuel Miranda - YouTube
2020 Census PSA With Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Lin-Manuel Miranda in SPANISH - YouTube

 

[repoman]

What other nations do a census where a citizenship question is not asked?

 

[Jimmy Higgins]

Not necessary for Ohio. I did mine and just reported the entire state's population for my home. That helps right?

 

[southernhybrid]

Since it takes about five minutes to complete and it's mailed in without even having to add postage, I'm not sure why it needs to be extended. I admit I didn't read your links LP. We sent ours back in weeks ago, or it can be done online. I was chosen to do the long form last year. I did it all online. The long form is done a year before the short form. At least I assume that's the case, since I had to do the long form in early 2019. If you're not familiar, the census bureau randomly chooses a percentage of households to complete the long form. The long form takes nearly an hour to complete. It asks about age, education, profession, languages spoken, etc. etc. The short form only asks a few questions.

I really don't understand why it's necessary to extend the census. Plus, the government hires people to follow up on households who don't complete the form. I know this because a friend of mine has worked for the census bureau part time for a number of years. He was always trying to hunt down people who didn't complete the form.

 

[ZiprHead]

Since it takes about five minutes to complete and it's mailed in without even having to add postage, I'm not sure why it needs to be extended. I admit I didn't read your links LP. We sent ours back in weeks ago, or it can be done online. I was chosen to do the long form last year. I did it all online. The long form is done a year before the short form. At least I assume that's the case, since I had to do the long form in early 2019. If you're not familiar, the census bureau randomly chooses a percentage of households to complete the long form. The long form takes nearly an hour to complete. It asks about age, education, profession, languages spoken, etc. etc. The short form only asks a few questions.

I really don't understand why it's necessary to extend the census. Plus, the government hires people to follow up on households who don't complete the form. I know this because a friend of mine has worked for the census bureau part time for a number of years. He was always trying to hunt down people who didn't complete the form.

There are many people that don't bother until the census taker comes to their door. It would be dangerous to have census takers going door to door now.

There's so many reasons this is such a shit storm.

I did our census online. Took about two minutes, if that much. I had one added question because my wife is a native american. Which tribe did she belong to.

 

[Old Woman in Purple]

We did ours online, too... Only took a few minutes. Questions included what languages we speak and what our ethnic/ancestry was.... (Me: Mostly English, with ~1/8 other-European mix; Husband: ~2/3+ German, ~1/4 English, ~1/8 other-European mix)

 

[Politesse]

Yes, it was brief even by US Census standards. What race are you, and do you own your house. Pretty damn barebones. The genealogist in me is sad that they didn't collect more detailed data this year.

 

[southernhybrid]

Since it takes about five minutes to complete and it's mailed in without even having to add postage, I'm not sure why it needs to be extended. I admit I didn't read your links LP. We sent ours back in weeks ago, or it can be done online. I was chosen to do the long form last year. I did it all online. The long form is done a year before the short form. At least I assume that's the case, since I had to do the long form in early 2019. If you're not familiar, the census bureau randomly chooses a percentage of households to complete the long form. The long form takes nearly an hour to complete. It asks about age, education, profession, languages spoken, etc. etc. The short form only asks a few questions.

I really don't understand why it's necessary to extend the census. Plus, the government hires people to follow up on households who don't complete the form. I know this because a friend of mine has worked for the census bureau part time for a number of years. He was always trying to hunt down people who didn't complete the form.

There are many people that don't bother until the census taker comes to their door. It would be dangerous to have census takers going door to door now.

There's so many reasons this is such a shit storm.

I did our census online. Took about two minutes, if that much. I had one added question because my wife is a native american. Which tribe did she belong to.

Okay, but that door to door thing doesn't start until the end of May and goes into August. Maybe that decision should be delayed a little while. Or maybe if people had PPE, they would be pretty safe going from door to door. It only takes a few minutes to answer the few questions on the form. Or the census takers could leave a card with a phone number to call, as the census can be done by phone. We expect grocery store workers, delivery employees, health care workers etc. to be constantly exposed to potential virus victims, so do we really need to be so over protective of census workers, or is the point that nobody will want the job if the virus is still a big problem? Just trying to think of a different perspective.

I would think the biggest problem would be counting the homeless, They aren't always in the same place, and if the pandemic is still a big problem, the homeless are at a high risk of getting infected. The administrators at prisons and such should have those numbers ready without too much delay. Can't this administration do anything right? NM. I know the answer to that.

https://2020census.gov/en/important-dates.html?cid=20407:%2Bcensus%20%2Bcom:sem.b:dm:en:&utm_source=sem.b&utm_medium=p&utm_campaign=dm:en&utm_content=20407&utm_term=%2Bcensus%20%2Bcom&msclkid=6a3b162fc5531bd5d47b48bde0bcbb41

May 27 – August 14: Census takers will interview homes that haven't responded to the 2020 Census to help make sure everyone is counted.
December: The Census Bureau will deliver apportionment counts to the President and Congress as required by law.
2021

Actually, my city has had an excellent response rate prior to April 1st. I assume it's because local government has given the issue a lot of publicity, and has bee nagging and reminding people about the importance of completing the census form.