For the past several months, the federal government has been conducting the 2020 census to gather data on the number of people living in the U.S. This information is used to determine the amount of federal funding state and local communities receive for programs like childcare, medical services, and more.

To date, nearly 62% of people in the U.S. have completed the census, but some communities have not responded in big numbers and are being undercounted. The National Association of Latino Elected Officials (NALEO) reports that regions of the country that are heavily Latinx, Black, and Native American are experiencing significantly lower response rates.

When communities are not counted in the census, they are under-resourced and under-represented.

For a reminder of how the census impacts women, read our Op-Ed in Ms. Magazine.

As the economic fallout of COVID-19 escalates, access to government assistance is especially critical and underscores why everyone needs to be counted.

The Census Bureau will soon begin knocking on doors to collect census information as part of its Nonresponse Followup efforts, but this can be expensive and uncomfortable, especially during a pandemic. We encourage everyone to take action to ensure all people get counted:

• Do: Fill out your census form
• Share: NALEO’s resources to motivate your friends and family to ensure they respond
• Watch: A Special Conversation: The LGBTQ+ & Immigrant Community Counts, featuring CA State Insurance Commissioner Ricardo

There is no citizenship question on the census, and it is safe and easy to participate in your home by mail, phone, or online. Please complete the census so our communities receive the support they deserve.