Counties rely on complete census count

The census is about power and money. The number of Illinois representatives in the U.S. Congress depends on the number of people counted in Census 2020. Similarly, the federal grant we receive depends largely on the count.

For example, for us in Kane County, failure to count all Kane County residents will have devastating effects on our ability to meet the needs of the residents. Even a one-percent undercount would result in the loss of $800,000 per year or $8 million over a decade.

April 1 was the census day. However, due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the Census 2020 is not receiving the attention it deserves. For example, the self-response rate for Kane County is 61% when in 2010 census the rate was 75%. The shelter-at-home order has a lot to do with the lower response. Due to the order, the enumerators and field workers have not been not knocking on the doors.

Second, with places of worship, libraries and other institutions shut down for in-person services, several organizations working in partnership with the Census Bureau can't engage the trusted persons to reach the hard-to-count population. That is perhaps why the self-response rate in certain tracts in the county is as low as 30%.

Now, the Census Bureau has restarted its enumeration effort and extended the deadline. Due to COVID-19, the need for federal funds has grown significantly for all communities. Therefore, I urge everyone to please get counted and to help those who are being held back in answering the questionnaire. It could be due to fear, lack of access to the internet or just overlooking the significance of being counted.

Mo Iqbal, Chair, Complete Count Committee

Kane County Board