THE 2020 CENSUS: COUNTING EVERYONE IS A PRIORITY

The 2020 Census count day, April 1, 2020, is fast approaching.  In addition to the work of the U.S. Census Bureau, the North Carolina Complete Count Commission  ("NCCCC") continues its work to achieve the highest participation rate possible for North Carolina.  More specifically, the NCCCC endeavors to:

• Advise the Governor and the North Carolina General Assembly on census activities in the state;
• Identify barriers that might impede the progress of the 2020 Census in North Carolina;
• Promote and advertise the 2020 Census;
• Respond to residents' questions and concerns about the census;
• Develop partnerships with regional and local Complete Count Committees to increase participation.  (Dare County has established a complete count committee and some of its work will become visible in the weeks ahead.  The committee is chaired by Donna Creef and Dorothy Hester.
• Distribute and share census information with traditionally hard-to-count areas and populations; and lastly 
• Seek to ensure the highest participation rate possible.

In my previous article, I covered the following topics:

• What is the census and what data does it collect?
• How is census data used?
• Census facts you should know?

Thus, I will not repeat that discussion here.  However, it is worth noting that census professionals have identified hard-to-count communities and considerable effort is being deployed in North Carolina to count these communities.  Hard-to-count populations include young children; racial and ethnic minorities; low-income workers; homeless persons; undocumented immigrants; mobile individuals such as college students, military and seasonal workers; LGBTQ persons; and those distrustful of the government.  While there is a heightened concern with respect to counting all of these populations, in North Carolina we have developed strategies to assist in counting a number of these populations, especially the Latinx community and young children. To underscore the concern, consider that undercounting Latinx's in the 2020 Census will result in a loss of federal funding to many states for child and family assistance programs.  In fact, it is estimated that a 3% national undercount of the Latinx population translates to a loss of over $24 million in federal funding to North Carolina. With the numbers we expect, it is projected that North Carolina will pick up another congressman when the 2020 census numbers are finalized and apportionment is set in place. Additionally, some demographers suggest that if there was a total count of the Latinx population in North Carolina, the state would gain two congressmen not just the one that is already projected.  

The Historical Roots of Undercounting 

The Common Cause Education Fund has released a well-researched study, "Whitewashing Representation, How using citizenship data to gerrymander will undermine our democracy", which discusses how misguided data collection can be used to defeat the well-meaning purposes of our decennial census.  As we are acutely aware, the United States census is supposed to make sure that our government accurately represents our communities. However, history tells us that this process can be weaponized for partisan gain. The study sets out that by undercounting people of color, Black, Latinx, and Native American populations have had their voices in government diminished over time. Early estimates show which states, from the standpoint of representation in Congress, stand to gain and which states stand to lose from the projected 2020 Census.   

Beginning with the first census in 1790, political power has been intertwined with the census and communities of color have been deliberately under-counted.  In 1790, in order to obtain more political power in the U.S. House of Representatives, rural southerners demanded that enslaved Africans be counted in the survey, while urban northerners feared that their political power would be significantly reduced and diluted.  As a flawed compromise and in completed disregard of their humanity, for more than 75 years enslaved Africans were counted as only three-fifths of a human being for the purposes of Congressional representation and taxation. And for nearly 80 years, Native Americans were completely excluded from the census.

Important for the 2020 Census and going forward, consider these statistics:

• Between 2000 and 2010, 55% of the growth in the United States was due to growth in the Latinx population.
• The Latinx population is younger than that of the Black and white population.
• North Carolina has the 11 th largest Latinx population in the country.

Collectively, we defeat the ill-devised purposes of those who would misuse the census by "counting everyone once, only once, and in the right place".  An accurate census is the basis of fair elections.

The Danger in Undercounting

Over $1,623 in federal funds and over $200 in state funds are distributed per person annually based on census data.  In very limited terms, undercounts significantly impact resources for our communities. With just a 3 percent undercount, we stand to lose:

• $1.8 Billion in North Carolina's rural communities.
• $400 Million for North Carolina veterans.
• $333 Million for children under age five.
• $930 Million in our African American communities.
• $545 Million for our state's Latinx population.

Obviously, these are dollars already paid in our taxes, but dollars that will be allocated to other states and communities if we don't have an accurate count.  These funds support economic development, infrastructure, military benefits, schools, education programs, food assistance, housing programs, healthcare, roads, public transportation, and more.  Clearly, we will feel the cost of undercounting.

 

Statistics in Schools and the 2020 Census

Statistics in Schools is a vehicle that can help to shape the future of every student for the next 10 years.  SIS is a U.S. Census program www.census.gov/schools  that uses census statistics to create classroom materials for grades pre-K through 12.  Teachers and subject matter experts nationwide helped develop each SIS activity to make sure it is valuable and engaging. 

 

SIS materials aim to educate students and the adults in their homes about the importance of counting everyone in the 2020 Census, especially children.  Census responses drive decisions on the annual allocation of more than $675 billion in federal funding to states and communities, which includes support for school programs and services such as:

• Special education;
• Free and reduced-price lunch;
• Class size reduction;
• Classroom technology;
• Teacher training;
• After school programs; and
• Head Start.

In conclusion, counting everyone is a priority.  Everyone can help.

Disclaimer:The views expressed above are those of the writer and not necessarily those of the North Carolina Complete Count Commission.

The Dare League of Women Voters members and friends will participate in the St. Patrick's Day  Parade on Sunday, March 15, as part of our Centennial Celebration and the Passage of the 19th Amendment.   Lin and I (Mary Jane) have discussed this and decided on a theme of Past,  Present, and Future of the League. Therefore, you can dress as a  Suffragette or in vintage or modern clothing. We would also like a  contingent of young people to represent the future. We welcome men and  boys. We would like to have you dress in white to honor the original  Suffragettes, but that is optional.

In 2012, the Dare League participated in the parade dressed as

Suffragettes. We decorated hats with feathers, flowers and lace. If

there is interest, we can do this again.

We also need cars, hopefully convertibles, to carry those who wish to

participate but can no longer walk the approximately one mile of the

parade route.

Please let me know, as soon as possible, whether you can participate,

have a car (and driver) we can use in the parade, and if you have a

grand-child, friend, neighbor, who can participate. The participants do

not have to be members. We welcome anyone who would like to join us and  have a great time. Also, if you have other ideas, please share them.

Please contact me ( Mary Jane Slesinski ) by phone (261-1591) or email at  mjslesinski@charter.net  Thanks in advance.

ON THE OCCASION OF THE CENTENNIAL ANNIVERSARY

OF THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS

Women's suffrage in the United States, the legal right of women to vote, was established over the course of more than half a century, first in various states and localities, sometimes on a limited basis, and then nationally in 1920.

In commemorating the centennial anniversary of the League of Women Voters, the Dare LWV has published a brief history of the efforts to secure the right for women to vote -- the 19 th Amendment to the United States Constitution, which was ratified by the requisite number of states in 1920.  The struggle began in 1848 at the first women's convention at Seneca Falls, New York when the movement commenced with the efforts of Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony to form the National Women's Suffrage Association.  The long and arduous road to the passage of the 19 th Amendment included several other women's rights organizations, marches by the suffragists, battles with people opposed to the amendment, hunger strikes, and other hardships.  As the vote was becoming a reality, the League of women Voters was established on February 14, 2020 to provide voting information for the eight million women who would vote for the first time.  Carrie Chatman Catt served as the organization's first president. The 19 th Amendment was ratified by two thirds of the states when Tennessee voted, on August 26, 1920, to approve it.

To commemorate this centennial year, the Dare LWV has planed a number of exciting activities.  Together, these activities are designed to meet two stated objectives, aside from their celebratory and educational purposes:

These wonderful activities, all shared with the public, are: