MAYWOOD –Senate Majority Leader Kimberly A. Lightford (D-Maywood) encourages local residents to fill out the 2020 Census, protecting their representation in government and share of federal funding.

“The strength in our community comes from within us, but our power is in our numbers,” Lightford said. “We cannot pass up our opportunity to be counted in this census.”

In 2010, Proviso Township had a final response rate of 71.8%, and areas in the Austin neighborhood had a response rate between 40% and just over 50%. So far this year, the response rates in those areas are at least 10% lower.

Although online is the quickest way to fill out the questionnaire, it can also be completed by phone or by mail. Lightford also pointed out that higher self-response rates mean fewer individuals are likely to receive visits from census surveyors to be counted in-person, protecting surveyors and residents from the possibility of contracting COVID-19.

If you haven’t filled out your census questionnaire yet, you can visit 2020census.gov, where you can find the online questionnaire and additional information about the census. To see local responses rates across Illinois and the entire nation, visit www.censushardtocountmaps2020.us.