April 1 marked Census Day, a key reference date for the 2020 Census. When completing the Census, individuals will include everyone living in their home on April 1, 2020. The Census is available online in one of 13 languages with assistance available in many more.

For the first time, a household’s Census form can be filled out online. Visit my2020census.gov to complete the form.

Responding to the census helps inform fund-ing for key public services for communities, like education programs and schools, hospitals and healthcare, roads and bridges, and emergency disaster response.

Based on continuing assessments of guidance from federal, state and local health authorities, the U.S. Census Bureau is suspending 2020 Census field operations for two additional weeks to April 15, 2020. The Census Bureau is taking this step to help protect the health and safety of the American public, Census Bureau employees, and everyone who will go through the hiring process for temporary census taker positions.

The U.S. Constitution mandates a census of the population every 10 years. The 2020 Census will count everyone who lives in the U.S. as of April 1, 2020. Census statistics help determine the number of seats each state holds in the U.S. House of Representatives and how billions of dollars in federal funds will be allocated by state, local, and federal lawmakers every year for the next 10 years.

As of the end of March, Oklahoma’s response rate was only 32.5%. Everyone is encouraged to fill out the Census online at my2020census.gov.