CENSUS STORY OF THE WEEK
With less than 30 days left to count residents in the 2020 Census, the Montana Department of Commerce and State Complete Count Committee are urging every Montanan who has not yet responded to the Census to do so before September 30.
“So much is at stake for Montana over the final 30 days of the 2020 Census count,” said Lt. Gov. Mike Cooney, who is the chairman of the Montana Complete Count Committee. “The Census is critical for determining our state’s fair share of federal funding for things like health care, education and infrastructure, and for our prospects at regaining a second congressional seat. It’s time we count, Montana!”
To date, 58.2 percent of Montana households have self-responded to the Census, compared to the national average of 64.9 percent, putting Montana among the bottom of states in self-responding to the Census.
While the federal government is tasked with counting all households every 10 years, the state supports the effort to educate and promote the importance of the Census.
During the final 30 days of the count, Montanans in low-response areas will see billboards, social media reminders, television, radio and newspaper ads to encourage self-responding to the once-in-a-decade count. Additionally, in partnership with the Montana Department of Commerce, the Montana Nonprofit Association, Western Native Voice and Forward Montana Foundation are reaching out directly to households in those hard-to-count areas of the state.
The Census count is used to determine the amount of federal funding distributed to the state – overall, more than $2 billion from more than 300 federal programs is allocated back to Montana based on Census information. Census data is also used to shape local voting and school districts and will determine whether Montana will regain a second seat in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Montanans who have not yet responded to the 2020 Census should do so now by going to MY2020CENSUS.GOV, by calling 1-844-330-2020, or by mailing in their Census form if they received one in the mail.
 The Montana Department of Commerce today announced a targeted marketing campaign that is already reaching Montanans in low-response areas of the state to increase Montana’s 2020 Census count. With 34 days left to count residents, the state is making a final push to encourage everyone to respond to the Census before the shortened deadline of September 30.
“This year has brought unique challenges and disruptions to our daily lives,” said Lt. Gov. Mike Cooney, who is the chairman of the Montana Complete Count Committee. “While Montanans continue to cope with a new reality, the Census may not always be top-of-mind. But that doesn’t make it less important, which is why the state is making this last, targeted effort to encourage Montanans to respond to the 2020 Census and shape our state for the next decade.”
The “It’s Time We Count” campaign is focused on reaching Montanans in low-response areas such as rural counties and tribal nations in Montana to encourage them to respond to the 2020 Census. Through a strategic mix of digital media, out-of-home, newspaper, radio and TV advertising, Missoula-based marketing firm Windfall will target areas where Montanans may not have received Census information in other ways, particularly through the mail. Due to disruptions from COVID-19 and because the U.S. Census Bureau does not mail to P.O. boxes or rural route addresses, as many as one-fourth of Montana households did not receive Census information earlier this spring.
The Commerce Department recently detailed some additional 2020 Census outreach efforts made possible by three other statewide partners through $530,500 in funding allocated by Governor Steve Bullock from the Coronavirus Relief Fund. Those partners, the Montana Nonprofit Association, Western Native Voice and Forward Montana Foundation, are hiring or have hired additional employees to reach Montanans in hard-to-count areas of the state.
While the federal government is tasked with counting all households every 10 years, the state supports the effort to educate and promote the importance of the Census.
An accurate and complete count of all Montanans is critical for determining the federal funding distributed to the state – overall, more than $2 billion from 300 federal programs is allocated back to Montana based on Census information. The Census count is also used to shape local voting and school districts and will determine whether Montana will regain a second seat in the U.S. House of Representatives.
To date, 57.9 percent of Montana households have self-responded to the Census. Montanans who have not yet responded to the 2020 Census can do so by going to MY2020CENSUS.GOV, by calling 1-844-330-2020, or by mailing in their Census form if they received one in the mail.
PARTNERS IN ACTION
Desiree Funston, Reference Librarian at the Missoula Public Library, created this fun overview of the history of the US Census Here. The video highlights the importance of the Census to genealogical research.
The National Archives and Records Administration is the keeper of the Census records and is responsible for making them available. According to the "72-Year Rule," the National Archives releases census records to the general public 72 years after Census Day. As a result, the 1930 census records were released April 1, 2002, and the 1940 records were released April 2, 2012. The 1950 census records will be released in April 2022. Federal population census records are currently available from the National Archives for each decade from 1790 through 1940.
Census Sending Emails and Calling Nonresponse Households
The U.S. Census Bureau announced it will begin emailing and calling households in low-responding areas to encourage them to respond to the 2020 Census.
Here is a LINK showing how to verify an email or text is from the U.S. Census. Be sure to take the steps to confirm before providing any information. The 2020 Census is nine questions and does not ask for your Social Security number, money or donations, anything on behalf of a political party, bank or credit card account numbers, or citizenship status.
An accurate and complete count of all Montanans is critical for determining the federal funding distributed to the state – overall, more than $2 billion from 300 federal programs is allocated back to Montana based on Census information. The Census count also shapes local voting and school districts, and it determines whether Montana will receive a second seat in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Montanans who have not yet responded to the 2020 Census can do so by going to MY2020CENSUS.GOV, by calling 1-844-330-2020, or by mailing in their Census form if they received one in the mail.
IN THE NEWS
Watchdog: Census lacks door knockers needed for 2020 count - ASSOCIATED PRESS
Montana 2020 Census partners increase outreach efforts to get accurate count for Montana - BITTERROOT STAR
IMPORTANT DATES
These events are current as of the publication of this newsletter, but are subject to change as the U.S. Census Bureau revises its operations.
March 12 – September 30: Self-response Phase
April 2 – September 3: Group Quarters Counting (e-response and paper)
July 1 – September 3: In-person Group Quarters Counting
August 7: Update/Leave Operations Ended
July 31 – September 30: The U.S. Census Bureau has said it will provide Mobile Questionnaire Assistance to locations allowing residents to complete the Census on site
August 11 – September 30: Non-response follow-up (door-to-door Census counting operations)
September 3 – 28: Counting at Transitory Locations such as RV parks, campgrounds, and hotels if people do not usually live elsewhere
September 22 – 24: Operations to count those experiencing homeless outdoors and at service-based locations
December 31, 2020: Deliver Census Count to the President
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HELPFUL RESOURCES
Montana Customized Census 2020 Resources
U.S. Census Bureau YouTube Channel
U.S. Census Bureau Outreach Materials
U.S. Census Bureau PSA Toolkit
HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT 2020 CENSUS OPERATIONS AND ENUMERATION?
To be routed to your local U.S. Census Bureau office, call
855-562-2020, select option 3, and enter your zip code.
Reach out to a Montana Census 2020 Partnership Specialist:
Jeri Bucy
Montana Partnership Specialist
U.S. Census Bureau
Email: jeri.bucy@2020census.gov
Phone: (406) 302-2227
Jihan Khalaf
Montana Partnership Specialist
U.S. Census Bureau
Email: Jihan.k.khalaf@2020census.gov
Phone: 406-439-3383
Laurie Cipriano
Public Information Officer
Email: laurie.a.cipriano@2020census.gov
Phone: (720) 891- 2497 (Colorado)
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