On top of everything else happening in 2020, it's also the year of the decennial census, when the government tries to collect basic information about every person living in the United States to make data-informed decisions for the future.
The official count determines the number of Congressional representatives for each state and their allocation of federal funds, including money for hospitals and health care programslike Medicaid — especially important given the pandemic.
Research shows an undercount of just 1% of Texas' population could result in a$300 million annual loss for the next decade.
There are numerous obstacles in the way of getting a complete and accurate count in Texas. An estimated 25% of the state's residents — more than 6 million people — live in "hard-to-count" areas.
The Census Bureau currently anticipates an undercount of at least 1.49% in 2020, meaning about 437,000 Texans could slip through the cracks. As of mid-July, the state's response rate was just over 57%.
The Bureau intended to unveil strategies in 2020 to improve efficiency, accuracy and response rates, but those tests were canceled due to inadequate funding.
The COVID-19 outbreak, a lack of investment at the state level, politicizationof the process and general distrustof the governmenthave also complicated complete count efforts.
How is the Census Bureau adaptingcommunity outreach efforts in response to these obstacles? How responsive have Bexar County residents been to the census so far?
Who would be most affected by a population undercount? How could a fair and accurate census be used to dismantle systemic inequities and improve the status quo in communities of color?
How can this data be used to better understand family histories and how the country's demographics are evolving? Could census delays affect redistricting in Texas?
What information is requested from households and what's the easiest way to self-respond in 2020?
Guests:
- Dennis Johnson, deputy regional director for the U.S. Census Bureau's Denver-Dallas region
- Celina Peña, co-chair of the San Antonio/Bexar County Complete Count Committee
- Kelly Percival, counsel with the Brennan Center's Democracy Program
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*This interview was recorded on Monday, July 27.
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