McHenry Times

McHenry County issued the following announcement on Sept. 19.

The 2020 U.S. Census is fast approaching, and it’s time for McHenry County to stand up and be counted – literally!

The Ad Hoc McHenry County Complete Count Committee will be kicking off its mission to get a complete and accurate count with a rally, starting at 8:30 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 25, in Conference Rooms B and C of the County Administration Building, 667 Ware Road, Woodstock.

The rally is aimed at getting county residents fired up about answering the Census, as well as getting their questions answered and their concerns addressed, said County Board member Michael Vijuk, who is co-chairing the committee with Woodstock Mayor Brian Sager. The committee represents a diverse cross-section of representatives from local governments, not-for-profit agencies, school districts, and faith, minority, and other communities.

“Participating in the U.S. Census is a primary duty of Americans, just like voting and participating in juries,” Vijuk said. “There is so much riding on our population count that many people don’t even realize, and it’s vital that every McHenry County resident take the few minutes it takes next year to answer the Census.”

The decennial Census, which is mandated in Article 1, Section 2 of the U.S. Constitution, is more than just a head count. Its primary purpose under the Constitution is to determine McHenry County’s representation in the U.S. House of Representatives and the Illinois General Assembly. A lower count due to less participation will weaken McHenry County’s voice in state and federal government, which could also mean the loss of millions of dollars for transportation infrastructure, community development, Medicaid, low-income assistance and other vital needs.

Census results also are used to adjust the legislative boundaries of the McHenry County Board, as well as the aldermanic wards for the Harvard, Marengo and McHenry city councils.

The Census Bureau is forbidden from publicly releasing your census form, or forwarding it to other government agencies, including the IRS, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or law enforcement.

“Answering the 2020 U.S. Census is safe, it’s secure, and there is so much riding on it for all of us. If you have questions, come to the rally and get them answered,” Vijuk said.

To learn more about the 2020 U.S. Census and the statewide Complete Count initiative, visit the Illinois Complete Count Commission online at www.illinoiscensus2020.com, or the U.S. Census website at www.census.gov, or follow the U.S. Census Bureau on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Instagram.

For more information on McHenry County's Complete Count initiative, contact Alicia Schueller at 815-334-0309, or by email at AASchueller@mchenrycountyil.gov.

Original source can be found here.