It is important for everyone to participate in the 2020 Census was the message delivered by Neal Dollar, specialist with the US Census Bureau, at the SKA November meeting. Census data could result in Florida gaining seats in the House of Representatives and will determine the state’s share of funds for a variety of federal programs. Counting everyone is a major undertaking. By April 1, 2020 you should receive an invitation to participate in the census. This will include a code and instructions to use the US 2020 Census web site to answer the census questions. You can respond online, by phone, or by mail. The Census Bureau’s goal is 95% of data collection online. Those who do not respond, will receive several reminders by mail. By May 2020, a census taker will physically visit non-responding addresses. These US Census Bureau representatives will never ask for your full Social Security number, money, banking or credit card information, or anything on behalf of a political party. Any emails, phone calls, letters, or personal visitors who do ask for such information in the name of the US Census are scams and you should not answer their questions. Get further information from the resources below:

• Online information on the 2020 Census
• Necessity of Accurate 2020 Census Count, Sarasota News Leader
• Road to 2020 Census presentation at SKA Nov meeting (download)
• 2020 Census Fact Sheets