The importance of the 2020 Census cannot be overstated. Extend the deadline.

Carole Wacey is the president & CEO of Women Creating Change. Photo courtesy of Women Creating Change

By Carole Wacey 

The importance of the 2020 Census cannot be overstated. As outlined in the Constitution,  a complete count of ‘every person living in the newly created United States of America’ is instrumental to ensure that our communities — including those hit hardest by COVID-19 — get the funding and representation they deserve. Yet time and time again, federal government officials appear to be doing everything they can to confuse respondents and obstruct this year’s count.  

Many changes have been made to ensure the census can be conducted safely while the pandemic rages on. But last week’s news that the door-knocking portion of the census will be cut short by a month threatens all the progress we have made so far to ensure every person can be counted this year. 

The door-knocking phase is an invaluable outreach tool to reach women and girls, many of whom fall into categories that are historically hard to count, including immigrants, children under 5 years, those experiencing homelessness, those without reliable internet access, and those who speak languages other than English.

We need Congress to act immediately to extend the statutory deadlines for reporting apportionment and redistricting data from the 2020 Census. Here in New York, where millions of dollars in funding and multiple congressional seats are on the line, the stakes could not be higher. 

Carole Wacey is the president & CEO of Women Creating Change, a nonprofit focused on advancing civic engagement for women in underserved communities.