Special Report from Olympia | May 8, 2020
Make sure you're counted in the Census
The future of your community and representation is at stake!
The 2020 Census is underway and is ready for America to respond. Plan to include everyone living in your home since April 1. You can respond online in one of 13 languages and find assistance in many more.
Here's what to look for in the mail: The first invitations arrived at an estimated 140 million households between March 12-20. Every household that hasn’t already responded will begin receiving home visits next week.
The 2020 Census counts every person living in the 50 states, District of Columbia, and five U.S. territories. The count is mandated by the Constitution and conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau, a nonpartisan government agency. Each home will receive an invitation to respond to a short questionnaire—online, by phone, or by mail.
The census provides critical data that lawmakers, business owners, teachers, and many others use to provide daily services, products, and support for you and your community. Every year, some of the money you send to Washington, D.C. comes back to our community -- to hospitals, fire departments, schools, roads, and other resources based on census data.
The results of the census also determine the number of seats each state will have in the U.S. House of Representatives, and they are used to draw congressional and state legislative districts.
Eastern Washington districts may be eliminated if you and your neighbors are not all counted, and with that, you could also lose your voice in Olympia!
Again, the direct link to the official online form is http://My2020Census.gov.
If you haven't done so already, please submit your response today!
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In the News:
Columbia Basin Herald | May 8, 2020
 Rep. Bill Jenkin, left, and Sen. Mike Padden, right, serve as their respective caucus representatives on the Washington Complete Count Committee, which is tasked with helping assure a complete and accurate count of residents in the state of Washington.
On Wednesday, Sen. Mike Padden (R-Spokane Valley) and Rep. Bill Jenkin (R-Prosser) sent a letter to former Gov. Gary Locke, chairman of Washington Complete Count Committee, and the Washington State Office of Financial Management, voicing their strong concerns about the need for additional efforts to promote eastern Washington participation in the 2020 U.S. Census.
In their letter, the lawmakers, who serve as the House and Senate Republican members on the state Complete Count Committee, write:
“The legislature provided some $20 million for the state to encourage participation in the 2020 decennial census undertaken by the U.S. Census Bureau. While we applaud the efforts of the Washington State Complete Count Committee to date, the response rates in eastern Washington are lagging those in western Washington. The apparent reasons for this include the Census Bureau’s operational plan and the unprecedented disruption related to the COVID-19 pandemic.”
Click here to read the full article.
If you have a question or concern about the census or any aspect of state government, please do not hesitate to contact our office. We are here to serve you!
Email address: Mike.Padden@leg.wa.gov
PLEASE NOTE: Any email or documents you provide to this office may be subject to disclosure under RCW 42.56. If you would prefer to communicate by phone, please contact Sen. Padden's office at (360) 786-7606.
To request public records from Sen. Padden, please contact Randi Stratton who is the designated public records officer for the Secretary of the Senate and Senate members.
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