The deadline for being counted in the 2020 Census is Sept. 30 and you can easily participate and be counted by Internet at my2020census.gov, by phone at (844) 330-2020 in English or at (844) 468-2020 in Spanish or by paper questionnaire.

This year’s census marks the first time households have been invited to respond online using a computer, smartphone or tablet.

Every year, billions of dollars in federal funding go to hospitals, fire departments, schools, roads and other resources across the country based on census data.

The census provides critical data that lawmakers, business owners, teachers and many others use to provide daily services, products and support for communities.

The 2020 Census count will impact community funding, services and planning for the next 10 years in Polk County, as well as across North Carolina and the entire United States.

As of Aug. 21, Polk County’s self-response participation rate with the 2020 Census is 54.8%. North Carolina’s self-response rate is 60.1% and the national self-response rate is 64.2%.

Self-response options and field data collection will end by Sept. 30, 2020.

Article 1, Section 2 of the Constitution mandates that the United States conduct a count of its population once every 10 years.

The results of the census determine the number of seats each state will have in the U.S. House of Representatives. Data collected through the census is also used to draw congressional and state legislative districts.

During the 2020 Census, the U.S. Census Bureau will never ask you for:

• Your Social Security number.
• Money or donations.
• Anything on behalf of a political party.
• Your bank or credit card account numbers.

Additionally, there is no citizenship question on the 2020 Census.

If someone claiming to be from the U.S. Census Bureau contacts you via email or phone and asks you for one of these things, it’s a scam and you should not cooperate.