The U.S. Census Bureau has moved the deadline for individuals to respond to the Census; it will now occur on the last day in October.
The end date for collecting Census responses has changed multiple times in 2020, with the Trump administration and federal courts going back and forth over the proper day to stop collection. It was originally announced as September 30 and briefly moved to October 5.
“As a result of court orders, the October 5, 2020 target date is not operative, and data collection operations will continue through October 31, 2020,” the Census Bureau said in a statement on Friday.
“Employees should continue to work diligently and enumerate as many people as possible,” the organization added.
Around 3,000 Census takers are currently working across Alabama, according to Steven Dillingham, director of the Census Bureau, who visited Montgomery on Friday.
Alabama is currently ranked as the second-worst state in the nation for Census response, ahead of only Louisiana. Both states have suffered damage from natural disasters in recent weeks, which observers say may have inhibited Census workers in coastal areas.
The Census is required by the U.S. Constitution and counts all persons living in the United States every 10 years. The population totals determine how many Electoral College votes a state gets in presidential election years, the number of seats a state gets in the U.S. House of Representatives and the amount of funding a state gets from the federal government.
Most observers say Alabama is one of the most likely states to lose a seat in the U.S. House, which would hurt the state financially and mean Alabama has less importance on the national stage.
Those who have not yet responded can fill out the census online my2020census.gov or by phone at the number 844-330-2020.
Spanish speakers can call 844-468-2020. Phone lines are open from 6:00 a.m. until 1:00 a.m. CT.
Completing the Census takes about six minutes.
“We continue to need the help of our many valuable partners to encourage all who live in Alabama to participate in the 2020 Census. Please help us spread the word,” wrote Alabama Counts, the organization dedicated to increasing census response in the Yellowhammer State.
Henry Thornton is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You can contact him by email: henry@new-yhn.local or on Twitter @HenryThornton95
