The United States Constitution states that the federal government is required to conduct the census once a decade. This is due to the fact that America’s forefathers had envisioned it as a vehicle to which to gather data. This data is used as a guide for fair and informed governance.
This is an extremely vital tool for business development and its growth. These businesses will use the data collected by the census — as well as the American Community Survey — then they use that data to develop a strategic guide for their business.
How Does the Census Gather up This Information?
The Census will have people go door to door asking residents about their living situation. They send out letters to people’s mailboxes or even send requests for information to people’s emails. The most critical part of gathering information for the Census is from the door-knocking efforts.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the U.S. Census Bureau announced that they shall be ending all 2020 census data collecting on Sept. 30th. This is one month sooner than the previously announced deadline.
This announcement has put a bit of pressure on those out collecting said data. COVID-19 has deterred collection efforts — about four out of the 10 houses nationwide have yet to be counted — meaning renters, immigrants, people of color, rural residents, and other historically undercounted groups may not be counted in the census.
Head of The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human rights — Vanita Gupta — says that the census and its people need more time to properly collect the necessary data. “There is no reason for the Trump administration to be rushing the census if they didn’t have a partisan or illegitimate motive.”
Written by Sheena Robertson
Sources:
NPR: Census Cuts All Counting Efforts Short By A Month
Census Business Coalition: Why is CBC needed?
Inline Image Courtesy of Spot Us’s Flickr Page – Creative Commons License
Featured Image Courtesy of Mecklenburg County’s Flickr Page – Creative Commons License
