Why the census is important - Letter to the Editor Templates

Want to raise awareness in your community about the importance of the Census?

A quick and easy way would be submitting a letter to the editor for your local paper.

Letters to the editor are usually short — generally under 250 words, but your paper may have a different requirement. You might check with them to see.

Below, we’ve provided a few examples of letters you can use as inspiration for your letter. Thank you for your support of the Census!

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Accurate Census count brings national funding to our community

Every 10 years, the U.S. uses the Census to count everyone living in the country and that information is used to fund state and local communities over the next decade.

The federal government uses data to allocate more than $675 billion to programs and services nationwide, including right here in Oklahoma. This funding affects almost every aspect of our communities, benefitting health care, infrastructure, public education, rural communities and transportation.

Estimates show each person not counted in the Census would cost Oklahoma about $1,800 a year in federal funding. By this count, a 2 percent undercount could cost the state up to $1.8 billion during the next decade. Oklahoma cannot afford to miss out on this much federal funding. The more Oklahomans who complete their Census, the greater chance will more federal funding our state will be allocated.

If you have not already done so, please complete your Census questionnaire. It only takes a few minutes but makes a huge difference for our community.

If you have not yet completed your Census, I encourage you to do so. You can complete the Census information mailed to your home, visit census.gov or call 844-330-2020 to complete the form. This will help ensure that we have better representation for all our communities at all levels.

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Census data ensure accurate government representation

The Census provides a snapshot of our state every 10 years. Accurate Census information is vital to ensure all communities are properly represented on the local, state and national level.

Local and state officials use this data for a variety of purposes, including determining congressional state and local districts. With correct population information, this helps ensure more equitable government representation.

Census data also is used to determine how the 435 U.S. House of Representative seats are split across the 50 states. Because of population shifts, southern and western states could gain seats while other states could lose them. This helps protect our representation in the nation’s capital.

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Accurate Census count encourages better community planning

Census data informs critical decision-making that impacts all Oklahomans. Government agencies, businesses, nonprofits and other organizations rely on data to determine community needs and make informed decisions.

Census responses also help allocate funds for things like new schools, libraries, hospitals and public transportation. Most of these facilities in turn provide essential programs and services for everyone in our community.

Businesses can use Census data to decide where to locate their operations, including factories, shopping centers, banks and offices. These activities can boost our local and state economies through job creation.

If you have not yet completed the Census information mailed to your home, I encourage you to take a few moments to complete it. Or you can visit census.gov or call 844-330-2020 to fill out the form online.

For nonprofits and community organizations, these organizations develop social service programs, community action programs and child care centers based on census information.

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Census impacts all Oklahomans

The Census is the basis for countless programs and services that impact every Oklahoman. It affects nearly every part of our lives, such as funding for government services, improving infrastructure and helping our communities prepare for emergencies.

Census data from 2010 led to Oklahoma receiving more than $9.3 billion through various federal programs. However, only three out of every four Oklahomans participated in the 2010 Census. Estimates show that each person not counted in the census costs the state about $1,800 per year in federal funds, which added up to Oklahoma losing nearly $1.8 billion in federal funding during the past decade.

Because Oklahomans were undercounted, it potentially cost the state billions of federal funding during the past decade that could’ve been used to benefit things like health care and public education. On top of that, communities not counted accurately lose out on increased political representation and critical resources.

The importance of filling out the Census cannot be overstated. It only takes minutes to complete, but the data impacts the everyday lives of all Oklahomans for the next 10 years.

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Census data is confidential, and vital to our country

2020 is a big year in the United States, not only because of the presidential election but also the ongoing Census project.

Filling out the Census takes only minutes to fill out, yet it makes big political and economic impacts in our community. It will determine Oklahoma’s federal representation in the nation’s capital, as well as federal funding for things like health care and education during the next 10 years.

The Census is one of the most consequential acts of civic engagement we can all take, regardless of our citizenship status. Data gathered during the Census is required to remain confidential and by law cannot be used against those who respond.