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1. What is the census?

The census is a count of every person who lives in the United States and its territories. It happens every 10 years. In early 2020, you will be asked to count everyone who lives in your home as of April 1. Responding to the 2020 Census is a chance to shape your future.

2. Why is participation in the 2020 census important?

Health clinics. Fire departments. Schools. Even roads and highways. 

The census can shape many different aspects of your community. Census results help determine how billions of dollars in federal funding flow into states and communities each year. The results determine how many seats in Congress each state gets. FInally, it’s mandated by the U.S. Constitution in Article 1, Section 2: The U.S. has counted its population every 10 years since 1790.

The census is vitally important to New York State and Ontario County for the following reasons:

1. An under count of as few as 16,000 people statewide could mean the loss of a congressional district in New York State (currently there are 27 congressional districts in NY, and an under count could bring that total down to 26 or even 25).  
2. Over the last 4 years New Yorkers have paid $116 Billion more in federal taxes than the federal government has spent in New York State, the highest deficit situation of any state.  That was caused partly by the under count during the 2010 Census estimated to be over 1 million people.