Why is it important?
The Census is important to you and your community. Governments, businesses, and nonprofits all rely on Census data. And its results affect a wide range of key policy decisions:
Political representation. Census data determine the number of Congressional seats each state has. It is used to draw Congressional and state legislative district lines, and in some communities, it also decides city, county, and school board seats.
Funding. It directly affects how more than $400 billion per year in federal and state funding is allocated to communities for neighborhood improvements, public health, education, transportation, and much more. For each uncounted Latino, more than $11,000 will be lost over the next decade.
Civil rights. Census data are used to protect our civil rights such as enforcement of the Voting Rights Act.