Editorial -- Your Civic Duty of the Decade: the 2020 Census

It’s 2020. An aesthetically pleasing year where "20/20 vision" jokes are rampant. It’s a year with a lot in store including the summer Olympics, a presidential election, and of course the 2020 Census. The census is an official population count of everyone living in the United States and its territories. It’s enshrined and mandated by Article I, Section 2 of the U.S. Constitution, and has occurred every ten years since 1790, over seven decades before Nevada became a state. Not only is the nationwide count required by the constitution, the census is your civic duty of the decade. A complete and accurate census count is vital to Nevada and Churchill County. Why the 2020 Census is important to Nevada: For states like Nevada which are experiencing large population growth, adequately reflecting said growth through the decennial census means securing more resources and fair representation. The 2020 Census will determine federal funding, shape political representation, and be used to make data-driven decisions affecting Nevada businesses, hospitals, schools, public resources, and social services to name just a few. According to recent estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau, Nevada passed the 3 million population milestone and still ranks among one of the fastest growing states in the nation. More people equates to more federal funding. According to the George Washington University Counting for Dollars study, in fiscal year 2016 the state of Nevada received over $6.2 billion through 55 federal spending programs guided by data derived by the 2010 Census. Lieutenant Governor and head of the Nevada Complete Count Committee Kate Marshall has deemed $20,000 the amount of federal funding the state risks losing for each Nevadan who is not counted. In addition to funding, the census determines how many seats are allocated to each state in the U.S. House of Representatives, and how the state legislature districts are drawn. The Census Bureau ranked Nevada the fastest growing state from 2000 to 2010, and after the 2010 Census, Nevada went from three to four seats in the U.S. House of Representatives. A complete and accurate count of Nevadans in the 2020 Census will ensure our state and communities receive their fair share of federal resources and Congressional representation. The 2020 Census Operation in Nevada: With a lot at risk and up for grabs, individual states have launched operations to supplement efforts by the Census Bureau. In April 2019, Nevada Governor Steve Sisolak signed an Executive Order to establish the Nevada Census 2020 Complete Count Committee and dedicated $5 million to census outreach efforts. According to the Nevada 2020 Census website, “The Nevada Complete Count Committee brings together businesses, non-profits, and state entities to share their individual and collective knowledge, expertise, and influence to encourage all communities, particularly hard-to-count communities, to participate in the 2020 Census.” The committee has hired a statewide coordinator and regional coordinators who are on the ground meeting with community leaders, amplifying the importance of the census, and strategizing on how to reach hard-to-count communities. Garrett Kalt, a Fallon native and founder of LEAD On, was hired as the regional coordinator tasked with covering five rural counties including Churchill, Lyon, Mineral, Pershing and Humboldt. The Nevada 2020 Census team are joined by Census Bureau employees who are hiring and preparing for the census to launch. According to the Census Bureau’s website, invitations to complete the 2020 Census will be sent to Churchill County residents starting March 12. The census may be completed by mail, phone or online in about ten minutes. People living in the U.S. are required by law to respond to the census. Those who do not complete the census after receiving multiple notifications by mail will have a census worker visit their residence. The 2020 Census is safe. Federal law prohibits the Census Bureau from using the information for anything other than statistical purposes. Census responses cannot be shared with anyone including the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Central Intelligence Agency, or Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Every Nevadan counts, and should be counted in the 2020 Census. For more information, please visit the Nevada 2020 Census website: census.nv.gov       Support local, independent news – contribute to The Fallon Post, your non-profit (501c3) online news source for all things Fallon. Never miss the local news -- read more on The Fallon Post home page.