TEXAS (1080 KRLD)- The U.S. Census Bureau says Texas is behind the national average for the percentage of households who have responded so far. The deadline to fill out a form for the U.S. Census is October 31, but workers started walking through neighborhoods and knocking on doors of people who have not filled out their form this week.
"The 2020 census is a way to get all residents counted and shape the future for their communities," says the U.S. Census Bureau's Bianca Gamez. "That includes not just getting better roads, hospitals, fire houses and school programs, but it also counts for Congressional seating."
Nationally, the census bureau says 62% of households have responded so far. In Texas, 56.9% have responded.
In North Texas, Dallas has had the lowest response so far with 53.8%.
Irving has had a response of 54.7%, Denton 58.7%, Fort Worth 58.9%, Grand Prairie 60.5%, Mesquite 61.5%, Arlington 61.9%, and Garland 63.6%.
"There is time, but we're also wanting to make sure we respond now. Get online, respond now," Gamez says. "We offer the census in 12 languages, plus English. That includes French, Korean, Chinese, Vietnamese. We just want to make sure we get all residents counted."
Census workers who go into neighborhoods will follow local public health guidelines.
The U.S. Census launched a nationwide ad campaign earlier this year to urge people to participate. The census does not include a question about citizenship.