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Posted on Monday, February 24 @ 00:00:22 PST |
Polk Perspective: Explaining why the U.S. census counts By Anne Weeks Guest columnist Sunday Feb 23, 2020 at 12:02 AM The U.S. Constitution requires that everyone in the United States be counted every 10 years.
The U.S. Constitution requires that everyone in the United States be counted every 10 years.
Reasons for counting the population are to determine the number of seats a state is to have in the U.S. House of Representatives, the amount of funds sent back to a state and the number of Electoral College votes a state receives.
Floridas population is estimated to surpass 22 million as soon as 2022. Florida now has 27 congressional districts. Congressional districts are about 700,000 people. Florida is estimated to gain one seat in the U.S. House of Representatives. There is speculation Florida might have two additional seats. This means more congressional districts. If that happens, Florida would have 28 or 29 congressional districts.
Florida will need more money. Some programs that receive funding include highways, loans, grants, education, housing, transit, food assistance, etc.
Every person at an address on April 1, 2020, is to be counted. This means anyone living at your home address.
Responses are safe and secure. By law, your response cannot be used against you. The Census Bureau will not share information with immigration or law enforcement agencies. Title 13, Code of Federal Regulations, makes it very clear that the data collected can only be used for statistical purposes.
Between March 12 and March 20, households will begin receiving official Census Bureau mail with detailed information on how to respond to the 2020 Census online, by phone, or by mail.
Between March 30 and April 1, the Census Bureau will count people who are experiencing homelessness. The Census Bureau counts people in shelters, at soup kitchens and mobile food vans, on the streets and at non-sheltered, outdoor locations such as tent encampments.
April 1 marks the 24th U.S. census.
Anne Weeks is a member of the Census Committee 2020 of the League of Women Voters of Polk in Lakeland. Never miss a story
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