LEON COUNTY, Fla. (WTXL) — If you don't do it, you could be missing out for the next ten years. Everybody, no matter your citizenship, should register for the 2020 United States Census.
"Leon County government and the city of Tallahassee take this process very seriously," said Mathieu Cavell, who's on Leon County's 2020 Census committee.
What may not seem like a big deal now has a big impact on our future.
The 2020 United States Census survey reports who you are and will help determine how districts will be laid out as well as how much money your area will get.
"It's easy for citizens to fill out the Census," said Cavell. "It takes about ten minutes of your time as a citizen to have about ten years of representation in your government."
New this year, people will be able to fill it out online.
The survey asks questions like your name, where you live, what type of housing you live in, how many people live in your home and your race.
It does not ask if you're a U.S. citizen, a question President Trump pushed for, but dropped. It still concerns some.
"The fear is that if that is on the Census or if there's something associated with it like an obligation or duty to complete it, if you're not a U.S. citizen, you're undocumented, you're not going to get those benefits and now you're going to be turned into ICE," Elizabeth Ricci explained.
Elizabeth Ricci is an immigration lawyer. She's also on the 2020 Census committee.
Ricci says people don't have anything to worry about. Instead, what you should worry about is what happens if you don't fill it out.
"We all will lose federal dollars for things like schools, roads, hospitals, regardless of your immigration status so it's important that we all complete it," Ricci explained.
Again, you can fill out the census form online, over the phone or through the mail starting April 1. Around May to June, you can expect door knockers to come ask you to fill it out in person.
To learn more about the process, click here.
