IMPORTANCE OF THE 2020 CENSUS
The 2020 Census will count every person living in Gurnee, the United States and U.S. territories. The census is conducted every 10 years by the U.S. Census Bureau, a nonpartisan government agency.
The results determine congressional representation and federal funding for states and communities, including Gurnee. Every year, more than $675 billion goes toward hospitals, fire departments, schools, roads, housing programs, emergencies and natural disasters from information collected by the census.
By April 1, 2020, Gurnee households will receive an invitation to participate in the 2020 Census and residents will have three options to respond – online, phone or by mail. Residents are required by law to participate in the 2020 count. All responses are confidential.
The United States Census Bureau is making it easier than ever before for people to respond to the Census.
In previous years, the primary method of responding to the Census was to receive a questionnaire in the mail, complete it and mail it back. For the 2020 Census, the internet is a primary method for households to respond. Mail and phone responses are still accepted.
JOIN THE 2020 CENSUS COMPLETE COUNT COMMITTEE
Complete Count Committees are nationwide volunteer committees established by state, local governments and community leaders to increase awareness and motivate residents to respond to the 2020 Census. The Gurnee County Complete Count Committee plays an integral role in ensuring a complete and accurate count of the community. Success of the census depends on community involvement and takes place October 2019 to July 2020.
The Gurnee Complete Count Committee will meet each 2nd Tuesday of the month at 6:30 p.m. at the Warren-Newport Public Library. Meetings are open to the public and those who are interested in the census are encouraged to attend.
Join the Complete Count Committee by sending an email to the Gurnee Complete Count Committee Chair Jack Linehan at JLinehan@village.gurnee.il.us or by calling (847) 599-7514.
COMPLETE COUNT COMMITTEE PURPOSE
The committee’s purpose is to encourage residents to participate in completing the census. The grassroots effort is informal and monitors progress while promoting census updates and job opportunities. The campaign timeline runs from October 2019 to July 2020.
WHY DOES LOCAL GOVERNMENT HAVE A VESTED INTEREST IN THE CENSUS?
- The census determines how many seats Lake County and Illinois has in Congress.
- The U.S. Constitution requires that electoral districts be periodically adjusted or redrawn to account for population shifts.
- Recovery organizations like FEMA rely heavily on data collected by the census to help guide recovery efforts and plan for future emergencies.