Let’s Talk 2020 Census Series

According to Carolina Demography’s North Carolina 2020 Census Tracker, 58.3% of households in North Carolina have self-responded to the 2020 Census between March 12 and July 19, 2020?. North Carolina is currently ranked 36 out of 50 states and Washington D.C. for the self-response rate. Nationally, 62.1% of households have self-responded to the Census. 

Why the Census Matters 

It is vital to fill out the 2020 U.S. Census. The U.S. Census is a once-a-decade count of everyone residing in the United States, and the 2020 Census will have a significant impact on North Carolina’s communities through representation, funding, and reliable information. The U.S. Constitution requires a census every ten years to determine seats in the U.S. House of Representatives. North Carolina has 13 Congressional seats, but recent estimates show that our state may gain a seat after the 2020 Census. A complete count will ensure that North Carolina’s voice will be appropriately represented in Congress. The Census also provides the most detailed picture of our communities, and governmental funding programs rely on Census data to distribute billions of dollars each year.  

Filling out the Census

Completing the survey is quick and easy to do. You can complete your Census questionnaire online, by phone, or on paper. By using your phone, tablet, or computer, or simply grabbing a pencil or pen, you can complete the questionnaire, spending less than 10 minutes on what can impact your community in the next 10 years. The process is safe, easy, and important and you can respond in one of three ways:

• Online by visiting my2020census.gov.
• By phone by calling 1-800-923-8282.
• Complete by mail

Let’s Talk 2020 Census Webinar Series  

This summer, the North Carolina Government and Heritage Library (GHL) has partnered with the North Carolina Complete Count Commission (NC CCC) to offer a webinar series to answer questions from the public focusing on hard-to-count communities and unique concerns regarding the 2020 Census. The online webinar series runs on Wednesdays from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM through August 12, 2020. 

Let’s Talk 2020 Census: A Safe Count for Latinx in N.C. 

On Wednesday, July 29, 2020, join us for a discussion about the impact of COVID-19 on a safe census for Latinx communities. The webinar and written materials will be available in English and Spanish. 

COVID-19 has impacted almost all aspects of our lives, especially for many Latinos. Even the 2020 Census has been affected. We see some of the lowest response rates in our rural and low-income areas. These communities can benefit most from census-driven funding for schools, roads, and healthcare and electoral representation. As rural and lower-income areas are suffering the most from the COVID-19 situation, the Census will also be critical to recovery resources. What can be done to coordinate the Latino response in these communities better? Join the North Carolina Government & Heritage Library to find out, in a Q & A session with representatives from the Association of Mexicans in North Carolina, Inc. (AMEXCAN). 

Future Let’s Talk 2020 Census Webinar Sessions

Please join the GHL and the North Carolina Complete Count Commission for upcoming Let’s Talk 2020 Webinar Sessions:

• August 5, 2020: Let’s Talk 2020 Census: Counting All of Rural NC
• August 12, 2020: Let’s Talk 2020 Census: Counting Coastal NC

Learn more

If you would like to learn more about past topics from the Let’s Talk 2020 Census webinar series, please go to this link, bit.ly/LetsTalk2020Census. You can also go to the State Library of North Carolina’s YouTube channel to watch recordings of past sessions. 

Please help #MakeNCCount!