JEFFERSON CITY, Mo (KMOX) - If you haven’t already, within a few days you should have received your invitation to respond to the 2020 Census, and the current coronavirus outbreak is a prime example of why you should respond.
The census helps determine how much federal funding each state will receive over the next decade, and that includes disaster funding for events like the current pandemic.
"It's difficult to stress enough, the importance of the census here in 2020," says John Skiles, Director of Census Operations for Missouri Gov. Mike Parson. "We just really need Missourians to respond and we need to get the best count we can because the future of our state, and our communities, depend on our response to the 2020 Census."
But if you’re wondering if the letter you received is legit, and not a scam, you should take a close look at the envelope.
"The return address should say it's from the U.S. Census Bureau and the U.S. Department of Commerce," says Shikles. "There should also be Jeffersonville, Indiana in the return address. The Census Bureau has processing center there."
Shikles tells KMOX the most immediate and safest way to respond is the new online option, my2020census.gov. You can also respond by phone or by mail.
If you don’t respond to the initial mailer by mid-April, you will be sent he traditional paper census form.