Today, Oct. 15, is the last day for people to complete the United States census, the once-per-decade population survey that figures prominently into government funding for schools, transportation, emergency services, health care, housing, and other key programs.
In an announcement this week, Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo urged people here to fill out the census online at my2020census.gov. It can also be taken today by phone at 844-330-2020. Paper copies of the census questionnaire were delivered to homes, so it can be sent by mail, too. Census workers may be walking through certain communities between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m. to gather information in person. Resources for speakers of languages other than English can be found online at 2020census.gov/en/contact-us.
The census consists of 10 basic questions and can be completed regardless of residency or citizenship status. Questions revolve mostly around age, sex, race, number of people living in the household, and whether the home is owned or rented. It is confidential, and does not ask for money or personal information such as Social Security numbers or political party affiliation.
"As New York continues the fight for aid from the federal government to help us respond to the Covid-19 pandemic, the time is now for New Yorkers to complete the census," Governor Cuomo said in the statement.
The deadline for completing the census was originally in July, but was moved to Oct. 31 because of the pandemic. President Trump then moved it to Sept. 30, but advocates filed lawsuits to preserve the Oct. 31 deadline. A Supreme Court ruling on Wednesday allowed the deadline to be moved up to today, Oct. 15.
