October 14, 2020 – The Pritzker administration has announced an additional $1 million in spending for census-related media outreach in communities of color across Illinois. The IDHS will continue to promote participation in the 2020 Census following the ruling of a federal court to extend the deadline to October 31. Illinois is one of the few states that allocated funding for census outreach in the 2021 fiscal year budget.
“Every ten years in this country we count the number of people who live in this state, and based upon that number the federal government gives states and cities funding for schools and hospitals and roads and childcare and more. And the higher the count, the more of your federal tax money comes back to Illinois instead of going to other states — and the more representatives we get in Congress. Just a one percent undercount could result in the state losing hundreds of millions of dollars in federal funds at a time when we need it most,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “No matter who you are, I’d like you to join this effort to get counted. Call your friends and neighbors or send them a text or email and urge them all to do their part: just like voting, filling out the Census is an act of civic engagement – a demand to be fully heard and fully counted.”
Pritzker’s administration recently advocated against efforts by the U.S. Department of Census to shorten the extension deadline which was granted due to the pandemic. IDHS will use additional funding over the next three weeks to promote a full and accurate count of all Illinoisans. Illinois’ current self-response rate is over 71%, which places it seventh in the nation, as well as the most populous state in the top 10, but many underserved and marginalized cities and neighborhoods are under 50% participation.
To complete the census, go to My2020Census.gov or call 844-330-2020 to get started.
