Count me in

In about a week, I will be trained as a Census 2020 enumerator. The training was slated for earlier this year but that’s before the pandemic upended society. As the Census Bureau restarts training, it’s important to understand why this decennial activity is so valuable and what it means for communities. (Get yourself counted here if you haven’t already.)

First, my temporary position will involve interviewing household residents and updating address lists. “Prior to the census, census takers used maps and address lists to determine if the addresses are correct. Next, they will visit households that haven't responded to the census, speaking with residents and using electronic devices (such as smartphones and tablets, issued by the Census Bureau) to collect census data,” according to job details published by the Census Bureau.

So why is the count important? Simply, it shows population changes across the country and reapportions political power in the U.S. House of Representatives and state legislatures. More importantly, it means getting much-needed federal funds for programs such as Medicaid, Medicare, food stamps as well as highway construction across U.S. communities. Every person should be counted whether they are citizens or not. Here’s a good explanation by the Council on Foreign Relations.

While I’m not going to get into the controversy surrounding the Census and Trump administration, I will say that it’s important to get counted regardless of your status in this country. Here’s a neat, easy-to-read guide about the census published by the Sarasota Herald-Tribune.

Want to learn more about the issues surrounding the Census 2020? Read about the AP’s coverage here. NPR’s Hansi Lo Wang is also one of the few reporters who’s writing almost exclusively about the census with some great pieces. Find his work here.