Mount Pleasant DC Forum

[ilana-mtp]

Hi there,

A quick question about the census. What is its use in DC?
From what I understand, the census is used to fix the number of representatives for each state in the House. So what do they do with the info in DC? Would boycotting the census in DC be a good way to call attention to the problem of voting rights?

Just curious.

Ilana

[sd20010]

I worked for the Census and can tell you that it is not political in anyway. Yes, it is used to determine how representatives from states are divided up (that does not apply to DC unfortunately!) but it is also used to determine how federal funds are applied. DC needs all the federal funding it can receive so please return the completed form. If you do not, they will send someone to your house to help you fill out the form.

All information supplied on the form is completely confidential and is NOT shared with any other governmental agency no matter what your legal, immigration, tax, etc status may be.

Remember to count all people in your house including children and any boarders you may have at the time.

Thanks

[dbh]

Boycotting the census is an incredibly stupid thing to do. Yes, it doesn't matter in terms of congressional apportionment if you come from a state with only one representative, or a territory, which only has a non-voting delegate. What's critical is that the census determines how federal formula funds are disbursed. Artificially depressing census turnout would mean a decrease in federal education, transportation, etc funding. Like I said, bad idea.