As outreach efforts ramp up ahead of the next U.S. census, many people are confused about what the census means or how they can participate, according to a new report.
A Pew Research Center found that 40% of people didn鈥檛 know that the census is tied to local government funding, fewer knew that it鈥檚 required by law and only one in five knew that they could respond online.
Anna Brown, a Pew research associate who helped conduct the survey, said there are other misconceptions.
鈥淔or example, a majority believe that the census will ask them if they鈥檙e a U.S. citizen or not, even though it鈥檚 been determined that on the 2020 Census,鈥� Brown said.
She said Hispanic residents are also less likely to participate in the survey, but it鈥檚 hard to say if a presumed citizenship question is why. Black Americans were also less likely to participate in the census, according to Pew.
As Politico last week, the U.S. Census Bureau is spending $500 million on ad campaigns urging participation and countering concern that the census will undercount minority groups 鈥� 鈥渨hich would impact everything from redistricting to federal grant spending for the next 10 years.鈥�
Most U.S. households will receive 2020 Census asking them to respond online or by mail or phone.
Find reporter Madelyn Beck on Twitter
Copyright 2020 Boise State Public Radio
This story was produced by the Mountain West 暗黑爆料 Bureau, a collaboration between Wyoming Public Media, Boise State Public Radio in Idaho, KUER in Salt Lake City, KUNR in Nevada, the O鈥機onnor Center For the Rocky Mountain West in Montana, and KRCC and KUNC in Colorado.
Copyright 2020 Boise State Public Radio 暗黑爆料. To see more, visit . 9(MDAxNDQ2NDAxMDEyNzU2NzM2ODA3ZGI1ZA001))
