Deadline to complete 2020 Census now Sept. 30

Rural Oklahomans now have less than two months left to be counted in the 2020 Census.

The U.S. Census Bureau will end self-response and field operations on Sept. 30, a month earlier than the previous Oct. 31 deadline, according to a recent statement.

The new deadline is a part of an effort to “accelerate the completion of data collection and apportionment counts by our statutory deadline of December 31, 2020, as required by law and directed by the Secretary of Commerce,” U.S. Census Bureau Director Steven Dillingham said in the statement. The census effort originally was scheduled to be completed on July 31 before the global pandemic caused a postponed deadline of Oct. 31.

Fifty-seven percent of Oklahomans have completed the 2020 Census as of Aug. 3, compared to the national rate of 63%.

The census can play a critical role in securing growth and prosperity for rural communities across the state. Census data is used to allocate $675 billion in federal funding to communities for critical services including hospitals, fire departments, schools, roads and many other resources. Responses to the census also will determine the number of seats Oklahoma receives in the U.S. House and will be given to the state Legislature to use in redrawing legislative district lines.

Complete your 2020 Census today by visiting 2020Census.gov or calling 1-844-330-2020. Learn more about the impact of the 2020 Census on rural Oklahoma at okfarmbureau.org/census.