The 2020 U.S. Census began on Tuesday, January 21, in Toksook Bay, Alaska, and by April 1, all households in the United States should receive invitations to participate. Christina Greer, Ph.D., associate professor of political science at Fordham, stresses the importance of being counted, even as she recognizes that some people, including immigrants and those in marginalized communities, might be reluctant to participate. “For those people who don’t fill out the census, the political repercussions will be great,” she says, noting that the census is used to draw electoral districts and allocate money to communities. This year marks the first time that respondents can complete the census online, in addition to via mail, phone, or in person.
