34 Comments - pool boy - Wednesday, Sep 9, 20 @ 2:56 pm: I’m not a 100% on this, but I am guessing Oswego Willy hasn’t done his yet. To busy watching Cub games. - Titan - Wednesday, Sep 9, 20 @ 2:57 pm: I did mine a long time ago. I don’t know of anyone who hasn’t (but it really isn’t a topic of conversation among my friends). My community has a pretty high compliance rate. - Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Sep 9, 20 @ 3:01 pm: I, indeed, filled out my census. I used the time I set aside to play golf with Tom Cross to fill it out. :) - the real Mike Madigan - Wednesday, Sep 9, 20 @ 3:06 pm: I ate an apple while completing mines. - bhartbanjo - Wednesday, Sep 9, 20 @ 3:07 pm: I did months ago. I expect everyone that I work with and know well has complied. I know a few musicians who are rural libertarians, and it would not surprise me if they have never done a census. - Carbondale Chronicle - Wednesday, Sep 9, 20 @ 3:14 pm: Here’s the lurking problem that is going unnoticed that will definately cause an undercount. Due to rules issued by the Department of Public Health, nursing homes and assisted living centers have strict restrictions on visitors. So when a census counter tries to enter one of these facilities to get an accurate count of the residents, they are denied access. Thus, there isn’t an accurate count of those facilities. The reason I know this is because I have a relative that works at one of these centers where this has happened. This is an issue that IDPH needs to immediately address so that Illinois can get an accurate count. - Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Sep 9, 20 @ 3:17 pm: It’s been really interesting, as when the subject is broached in family and friend circles, for me, I’ve been pleasantly surprised how many voluntarily filled out the census. The underserved areas are the most worry, as thise numbers are undercounted, Illinois will lose out on millions of federal dollars, and this truth we (in Illinois) will likely-already lose a congressional seat, the worry by those whom I know filled it out are concerned others are resigned that this is merely about congressional representation, which is a part of a greater whole. - Lt Guv - Wednesday, Sep 9, 20 @ 3:18 pm: I did quite some time ago, but I recall 10 yrs ago when I ran a government affairs sop for a national association getting calls from members about the census concerned about the gub’ment getting their precious information. It was an awakening to a large American undercurrent. I knew it was there, but the volume shocked me. - Lt Guv - Wednesday, Sep 9, 20 @ 3:19 pm: That was supposed to be “shop.” - Donnie Elgin - Wednesday, Sep 9, 20 @ 3:22 pm: Self-response rates statewide at 70.1%. - Census identifies a number of hard to count communities from all areas of the state. Harvey at 44%. While Hardin County is at 33%. Got to get those rates up by the end of the month - Rachel - Wednesday, Sep 9, 20 @ 3:23 pm: I did it the same day I got the notice and it took less than five minutes. Everybody I know has filled it out but we are a docile bunch composed mostly of very middle class retirees. - Six Degrees of Separation - Wednesday, Sep 9, 20 @ 3:24 pm: ===The underserved areas are the most worry=== Yeah, but doesn’t every state have that to some degree, thus helping balance out any missed count? I think Illinois is doing a lot to make an attempt to count everyone. There are Census 2020 placards up in all the public spaces around my neck of the woods, and other visible public efforts. I filled mine out online the week we got the notice. - MakePoliticsCoolAgain - Wednesday, Sep 9, 20 @ 3:27 pm: I filled out mine months ago and sat with another friend to ensure they filed it out as well. Too important not to spend the 10 minutes with someone to make sure they complete their Census. - City Guy - Wednesday, Sep 9, 20 @ 3:32 pm: Its worth noting that a big part of the undercount is the result of people not being included when the forms are filled out. For instance, someone will leave out a recently born baby. Or they will leave out a boyfriend/son who lives with them some of the time but not legally or not all of the time. - 47th Ward - Wednesday, Sep 9, 20 @ 4:01 pm: ===So when a census counter tries to enter one of these facilities to get an accurate count of the residents, they are denied access. Thus, there isn’t an accurate count of those facilities.=== Census enumerators do not go room by room counting nursing home residents (or college dorm residents either). Nursing home administrators can (and do) provide a certified list of residents to the Census. I don’t know who your relative is, but I hope he or she is not the person in charge of that nursing home. https://www.ahcancal.org/Reimbursement/Pages/USCensusFacilityParticipation.aspx Lots of people spread misinformation by accident. Don’t be one of those people. The truth is out there. - Allow me to be anonymous today - Wednesday, Sep 9, 20 @ 4:02 pm: I have been a census taker, and here’s what I know. People who receive mail at a PO box don’t receive forms. They may not take the initiative to find out how to find the forms or go on line. We knock on their doors. Others just don’t make it a priority or they forget to do it. Some are afraid to answer because they are suspicious. Some are anti-government. There are people who are not functionally literate. Many low income residents are not motivated. Some residents have moved and those addresses get left in limbo, some addresses are only part-time residences–these kinds of discrepancies have to be cleared up by the census takers. For those that don’t know, the census is addressed-based. We look for addresses, then count people at the address. We don’t look for people by name. - 47th Ward - Wednesday, Sep 9, 20 @ 4:03 pm: Here’s a better link: https://2020census.gov/en/conducting-the-count/gq/gqe.html - NRFU - Wednesday, Sep 9, 20 @ 5:03 pm: As an enumerator, I am absolutely appalled by the lack of participation and sometimes the downright hostility we face in the field. It crosses all demographics from immigrants to people with Trump flags displayed. Nice display of civics folks. - Jocko - Wednesday, Sep 9, 20 @ 5:53 pm: NRFU (and others), Sorry to hear you’ve faced grief for such an easy, painless process. The Gub’mint types seem to have forgotten that the census has been taking place since 1900. What makes you special? - Allow me to be anonymous today - Wednesday, Sep 9, 20 @ 6:07 pm: Yes, NRFU, I feel your pain. I work in the reddest of red areas. Some people who answer the door are mildly irritated, others slam the door in my face. One threatened me. Most just take it in stride. Others are just the friendliest people you could meet. I’ve even been thanked for doing this job. I worked with the public for years, and none of this surprises me. Stay safe, NRFU. We’ll get it done. - Huh? - Wednesday, Sep 9, 20 @ 6:49 pm: I have a cabin in the woods that I use on weekends and holidays. Stopped by last Saturday and found census notice stuck in the door. Am half tempted to list my wife’s cats as residents just to mess with tramp’s census count. Did my census on line shortly after I received the notice in the mail. - JoanP - Wednesday, Sep 9, 20 @ 6:51 pm: I did mine online as soon as I got the notice. I honestly don’t know about other people. It’s not something we’ve been discussing. - Nearly Normal - Wednesday, Sep 9, 20 @ 7:22 pm: Census has been done since 1790. They counted people by sex and age group, including slaves (which counted as 3/5 for tax purposes.) 1850 was the first time free inhabitants were named. Slaves were listed by owner but not their names. 1860 listed relationship to the head of household for free inhabitants. Slaves were listed by owner and only first names were listed. - RNUG - Wednesday, Sep 9, 20 @ 8:22 pm: I did mine online for 2 houses when the postcards were first mailed. Then I got a card stuck in the door of the vacant house. I went online and again did that one, and then got promoted to also do the we live in. Having to do both a second time makes me wonder about how well they are recording things. - ArchPundit - Wednesday, Sep 9, 20 @ 10:36 pm: ===As an enumerator, I am absolutely appalled by the lack of participation and sometimes the downright hostility we face in the field. It crosses all demographics from immigrants to people with Trump flags displayed. Nice display of civics folks. That’s interesting. I did it in 2000 and immigrants were cautious, but once you explained the rules they were okay–I can see why that is harder now. I have a ton of good stories I need to write down from that summer. Vast majority of people including the drug dealers were cool, but just a few freaks got angry. - ArchPundit - Wednesday, Sep 9, 20 @ 10:37 pm: ===college dorm residents either Dorm residents are not reported by the college though–too many are counted at home. - ArchPundit - Wednesday, Sep 9, 20 @ 10:39 pm: —-Having to do both a second time makes me wonder about how well they are recording things. Historically the Census has a very good process for matching duplicates. If you provided consistent information it should be caught. Even with the problems the Census Bureau has had this year, they are the state of the art in this. - Latina - Wednesday, Sep 9, 20 @ 10:52 pm: -NRFU- Really??? Illinoisans know that the more federal money to the state is just more money for Illinois politicians to enrich themselves and their cronies and nothing for the minority neighborhoods except crumbs. - Latina - Wednesday, Sep 9, 20 @ 10:55 pm: -Nearly Normal- family slave owners back in the day?? - Just Me 2 - Wednesday, Sep 9, 20 @ 11:02 pm: Had a friend tell me recently it was a violation of his privacy to give his personal data to the government. He went on a diatribe of the technology companies illegally collecting his data as if it was the same thing. - 47th Ward - Thursday, Sep 10, 20 @ 7:19 am: === Dorm residents are not reported by the college though–too many are counted at home.=== They are supposed to be counted “where they live on April 1, 2020,” which this year meant at home for most. But in a typical year, they are counted at the school and the school certifies the list of residence hall students to the Census. - Politix - Thursday, Sep 10, 20 @ 9:01 am: Many don’t trust the government not to exploit the info. I’m town Census liaison and have not targeted marketing toward marginalized populations because I don’t trust the gov, either. - City Guy - Thursday, Sep 10, 20 @ 9:14 am: The other part of the census not often discussed is the overcount. People who have second homes, such as snowbirders, will be receive a form for both homes since the census is based on addresses. Even if they only fill out one form, the enumerator may end up providing info on the second home based on discussions with a neighbor or mailman. Likewise it is common for college students can be counted twice. I had not thought about it, but since college students were not in college and at home, it could hurt college towns for money and representation. - Anonymous - Thursday, Sep 10, 20 @ 9:54 am: If one disagrees with the actions of the states political leaders why would you fill out a form to give them more money and power? The census is a fraud. We are a mobile society today not farmers tied down on a homestead. You’re gong to determine federal money distribution and political representation, electorate votes FOR THE NEXT TEN YEARS as an est net 300 Illinoisan’s leave the state each day and Fla gains 1,000/day Naw. why fill out a census to give the state money for the next ten years when you may not live here in the next ten months, days, hours or even the next ten minutes given riots and violent crime in Chicago Sorry, comments for this post are now closed.