UPDATE APRIL 8, 2020: Since the kickoff of the 2020 U.S. Census on March 12, about 45.9 percent of households in Clark County have filled out their Census forms compared with 46.2 percent nationally, and 45.3 percent for the entire state of Nevada.
With the coronavirus pandemic sweeping across the country, County officials are reminding Southern Nevadans that it’s more important than ever that every local household gets counted in this year’s Census.
“I am proud of the way this community has risen to the enormous challenges presented to us by coronavirus and I have no doubt that we will come back stronger than ever,” said Clark County Commission Chairman Marilyn Kirkpatrick. “One way you can help put us on the road to recovery is to fill out your 2020 Census form if you haven’t done so already. We are going to need every federal dollar we deserve from data derived from this year’s census to serve our community when we put COVID-19 behind us.”
A link to the U.S. Census bureau’s response map, which tracks participation rates by state in the U.S. Census is posted on the Southern Nevada Counts “Win the Census” campaign website at www.SouthernNevadaCounts.com. The Census form can be filled out online over the U.S. Census Bureau’s website at www.2020Census.gov or by phone or mail.
Officials say in the 2010 Census, Nevada’s population was undercounted. About 60 percent of households participated in the population count, which means the state could have received 40 percent more funding during that Census period had all households been counted.
“With the economic challenges we face as a result of coronavirus, it’s more important than ever that Nevada’s entire population is counted in the 2020 Census so we get the funding and representation we deserve from Washington,” said Clark County Commissioner Justin Jones, chairman of the Southern Nevada Regional Planning Coalition, which initiated the Southern Nevada Counts effort. “Data collected in this year’s Census will inform funding formulas every year for the next decade that will go directly to services and programs which will help our community get back on its feet.”
ORIGINAL STORY: As the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) continues to have an impact on the country and our local communities, the safety, health and welfare of all Nevadans is a top priority.
RELATED: School funding, representation in Congress: Why the 2020 Census is so important for Nevadans
Despite growing concerns about the public health situation, the census is easier than ever for Nevadans to complete through one of three safe, confidential and quick ways from the comfort of their own homes: online (www.census.nv.gov, via phone (844-330-2020; for Spanish 844-468-2020), or mail in the hard copy questionnaire. This helps keep everyone safe – residents and census workers alike.
“The federal funding Nevada gets based on a complete count – more than $67 billion over ten years – affects all of us in our daily lives,” Kerry Durmick, Nevada Census 2020 Statewide Coordinator said. “Things like Medicaid, Medicare, nutrition and transportation services for seniors, the federal Pell Grant program, career and technical education grants, and highway construction funds benefit all Nevadans.”
Reminder letters are currently being sent from the U.S. Census Bureau in the mail along with instructions of how to fill out the form. If residents have not received any information or the form in the mail by April 1, please call the U.S. Census Bureau’s hotline at 844-330-2020 (for Spanish call 844-468-2020).
Additionally, if you are a resident who does not receive mail through the U.S. Postal Service, does not have access to a computer or wi-fi at your home, or needs help filling out the questionnaire, you are encouraged to call the U.S. Census Bureau’s hotline to complete the questionnaire over the phone.
There are also public computer stations at local libraries and community centers throughout the state. Locations can be found by visiting https://census.nv.gov/computer-stations/.Volunteers and employees are taking every precaution to help keep visitors and themselves healthy, including frequent disinfecting computer equipment and surfaces, and frequent handwashing. If you would like more information about the most current protocols in place at the public computer stations, please email questions to nvcensus2020@gov.nv.gov.
In the meantime, please monitor www.census.nv.gov and www.nvhealthresponse.nv.gov for updated information about the 2020 census and guidance on how to protect yourself and loved ones.
