To: State legislatures
Protect our democracy -- fund the Census
If the Census isn’t properly funded in all 50 states, vulnerable communities will lose access to vital resources and representation in government. And if Congress won’t do it, it’s up to the states to sufficiently budget for the 2020 count -- to make sure our democracy is truly fair and representative.
Why is this important?
The Census is constitutionally required to count every person living in the United States. But without proper funding and manpower, we risk an “undercount” -- cutting millions out of political representation and jeopardizing the very foundation of our democracy.
The 2020 Census will shape our nation’s government, public policy, and budgets for an entire decade. The data we gather determines everything from congressional district maps to local resource allocation -- like school funding, the number of firehouses in our neighborhoods, and highway and road repair budgets.
People of color -- particularly Black and Latino communities in both urban and rural areas -- are at an especially high risk of being undercounted by an underfunded Census. This would deprive countless Americans of resources, political representation, and the right to a democracy that truly represents all of us.
We can’t let that happen. Add your name and tell lawmakers in your state to make sure the 2020 Census is fully funded.
The 2020 Census will shape our nation’s government, public policy, and budgets for an entire decade. The data we gather determines everything from congressional district maps to local resource allocation -- like school funding, the number of firehouses in our neighborhoods, and highway and road repair budgets.
People of color -- particularly Black and Latino communities in both urban and rural areas -- are at an especially high risk of being undercounted by an underfunded Census. This would deprive countless Americans of resources, political representation, and the right to a democracy that truly represents all of us.
We can’t let that happen. Add your name and tell lawmakers in your state to make sure the 2020 Census is fully funded.