Census During COVID-19 Extended Through October 31
WASHINGTON – On Thursday, a federal judge issued a preliminary injunction and ordered the Trump administration to abandon its abbreviated census schedule and to extend the reporting deadline by a month to October 31. Earlier this year, the administration called for a four-month extension for the census reporting period due to disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the administration soon reversed its stance to end the extension a month early.
“We applaud the court for extending the deadline for Census 2020,” said Juliet K. Choi, executive vice president of the Asian & Pacific Islander American Health Forum. “Having an accurate census count is necessary for the overall well-being of our nation. A shortened timeline would overlook historically undercounted groups including Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders. Because the census determines every facet of our lives, the order providing the Census Bureau extra time during the COVID-19 pandemic ensures our best chance that every person is counted. It’s not too late – we urge every household to make sure they are counted by completing the census by visiting my2020census.gov.”
The census, which occurs every 10 years, determines representation and funding for communities, including the number of U.S. Representatives and number of electors in the Electoral College a state receives. Federal agencies, state and local governments, and other public and private entities rely on census data to determine investment in communities.
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The Asian & Pacific Islander American Health Forum (APIAHF) influences policy, mobilizes communities and strengthens programs and organizations to improve the health of Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders.