By Frank X. Moraga • Amigos805.com
The year 2020 will go down as one of the most challenging years this nation has faced. A continuing pandemic, large nationwide demonstrations for civil rights, a contentious election campaign season — all during a time when the nation was attempting to complete the 2020 Census.
Now, there is word that the Sept. 30 deadline to complete the Census may be pushed back to its original Oct. 31, 2020 pandemic-altered deadline: Please see — CNN — Federal judge orders nationwide 2020 census counting to continue through October 31.
But since the ruling is subject to appeal, and nothing else appears predictable during 2020, it would be best to continue to fill out those Census forms as quickly as possible.
All counties in the 805 region have already exceeded the 2010 Census self-reporting effort. Bilingual report — All cities across Ventura County surpass 2010 Census self-response rate
But the higher the response rate, the better off the region will be when receiving federal funding for education, roads, health care, public safety and other projects. Higher Census numbers also impacts the number of representatives we have in Congress.
So complete your U.S. Census forms here.
Click here to see the Self-Response Rates Map for the Central Coast and the rest of the United States.
***
Also, be sure to register to vote. Click here or the image at the right to see a new video by the Ventura County Recorder-Registrar on important dates for the 2020 election.
***
Early U.S. Census deadlines during time of Coronavirus Pandemic threaten voice of communities of colors
Participating in the 2020 Census helps our community! The Census helps determine how billions in federal funding is distributed to our community over the next 10 years.
There are three easy ways to complete the Census survey:
By phone at 1-844-330-2020
Online at www.my2020census.gov
By mail – you can send in the paper form that you should have received in the mail if you still have not completed the Census. Courtesy County of Ventura.
The timeline has been moved up for the final U.S. Census count, with the deadline set for Sept. 30, 2020.
The early deadline, especially during this time of Coronavirus shelter-at-home orders during 2020, has put a tremendous strain on the men and women in charge of going out to communities of color and gather information to make sure we have an accurate count of our communities.
Census results are used to determine how many seats each state gets in the House of Representatives. It is also used to determine the amount of federal funding for schools, health care, public safety, roads and infrastructure, Medicare/Medicaid and other social services.
The Coronavirus Pandemic has caused a delay in getting Census workers from going door-to-door to help families fill out their forms. And while many affluent communities have been able to easily go to https://my2020census.gov to fill out their forms online, the digital divide continues to hinder communities of color from taking part in the Census process.
Participar en el Censo 2020 ayuda a nuestra comunidad. El Censo determina como miles de millones de dolares se distribuyen a nuestra comunidad durante los próximos 10 años. Un recuento preciso asegura que nuestra comunidad recibe los fondos necesarios para apoyar a estos programas.
Hay tres maneras de completar el Censo:
Puede llamar al 1-844-468-2020
Puede visitar www.my2020census.org
Puede enviar el formulario impreso que recibio por correo.
Participe en el Censo hoy y ¡hágase contar!
Cortesía Condado de Ventura.
The time is now for community members and organizations to reach out to the public, stress the importance of the Census to increase our Census response rate. Check with your friends, family members and others and make sure their their voice is counted.
Also see: Bilingual report: Inlakech Cultural Arts Center says respond to Censusform online
Currently,
- Ventura County has a 76 percent self-response rate as of Sept. 24, 2020, up from 72.5 percent in 2010
- Santa Barbara County has a 71.1 percent self-response rate as of Sept. 24, 2020, up from 68.5 percent in 2010
- San Luis Obispo County has a 68.1 percent self-response rate as of Sept. 24, 2020, up from 66.3 percent in 2010
- California has a 68.8 percent self-response rate as of Sept. 24, 2020, up from 61.3 percent in 2010
- Overall, the United States has a National self-response rate of 66.3 percent as of Sept. 24, 2020, tied with a 66.3 percent rate in 2010
The numbers are good, but we can do better!!!
Facts to remember about the Census:
- Count everyone who is living in your house on or after 04/01/20 on your census form
- The census DOES NOT ask about citizenship
- All information collected is required BY LAW to be kept confidential
- Make sure to include children and babies when filling out your census
- EVERYONE COUNTS!
***
Get ready for ELECTION SEASON!!!
“Voting has never been easier.” All vote by mail for California! Help us get out the vote. Order a mask for $10 at: info@lwvventuracounty.org. Courtesy image.
As if Fall isn’t busy enough, we also have a General Electionscheduled for Tuesday, Nov. 3. All registered voters in Ventura, Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties (and everyone else in California) will be getting an official ballot in the mail for the Nov. 3, 2020 General Election.
Be sure to check if:
- Are you registered to vote?
- Have you checked your voter status?
- Have you changed your registration?
Important dates:
- Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2020.
- The deadline to register online to vote is Monday, Oct. 19, 2020.
- The deadline for registering by mail to vote is (postmarked by) Monday, Oct. 19, 2020.
- The deadline to register in person to vote is Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2020.
- The early voting period runs from Monday, Oct, 5, 2020 to Monday, Nov. 2, 2020, but dates and hours may vary based on where you live.
- You can also register and vote on Election Day.
Due to concerns with in-person voting during the Coronavirus Pandemic, potential intentional delays with the U.S. Postal Service and other ongoing voter disfranchisement efforts, ELECTION DAY has become ELECTION SEASON.
The time is now to get your VOTING PLAN in order.
The League of Women Voters — Ventura County has just released the following information in English and Spanish to help make sure you are prepared to vote. Please feel free to download and pass along this information to other community members and organizations.
Thank you for taking Democracy in your hands.
