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By Megan Alley
Sun Reporter

If you’ve wondered why the Census Bureau asks the particular questions that it does on the 2020 Census form, we’ve got answers for you.

During a July 9 Clermont County Complete Count Committee meeting held via Zoom, Clermont County Commissioner David Painter said that some constituents to whom he’s spoken had expressed reservation about answering some of the questions that they felt were “too personal.” 

Some folks told Painter that they had submitted their 2020 census forms without answering these questions.

Currently, the response rate to the 2020 Census for Clermont County as a whole (71.4 percent) is higher than the national and state averages (61.9 percent and 66.5 percent, respectively), but there’s still room for improvement.

The parts of the county with the lowest response rates are Franklin Township (52.4 percent), northern Monroe Township (55.4 percent), Washington Township (57.9 percent) and Ohio Township (58 percent).

Answering the 2020 Census completely and factually is important, as the census provides essential data that lawmakers, business owners, teachers and many others use to provide daily services, products, and support for residents and the local community.

Every year, billions of dollars in federal funding go to hospitals, fire departments, schools, roads and other resources based on census data.

Responses are confidential – they’re secure and protected by federal law – and they’ll only be used to produce statistics.

Below is the list of 12 questions asked to United States residents on the 2020 Census form, and the reasons why those questions are being asked. 

The Sun pulled this information from the U.S Census 2020 website.

Question 1
How many people were living or staying in this house, apartment, or mobile home on April 1, 2020?

This information helps the Census Bureau count the entire U.S. population and ensures that they count people where they live most of the time as of Census Day (April 1, 2020).

Question 2 
Were there any additional people staying here on April 1, 2020, that you did not include in Question 1?

The goal of the 2020 Census is to count everyone just once and in the right place. The Census Bureau wants to ensure that everyone in your home who should be counted is counted—including newborns, roommates and those who may be staying with you temporarily.

Question 3 
Is this a house, apartment, or mobile home?

This information helps the Census Bureau produce statistics about homeownership and renting. The rates of homeownership serve as one indicator of the nation’s economy. They also help with administering housing programs, planning and decision-making.

Question 4 
What is your telephone number?

The Census Bureau asks for your phone number in case there are any questions about your census form. You will only be contacted for official census business, if needed.

Question 5
What is Person 1’s name?

The Census Bureau asks a series of questions about each member of your household. This allows the agency to establish one central figure as a starting point.

Question 6
What is Person 1’s sex?

This allows the Census Bureau to create statistics about males and females, which can be used in planning and funding government programs. This data can also be used to enforce laws, regulations, and policies against discrimination.

Question 7 
What is Person 1’s age, and what is Person 1’s date of birth?

The Census Bureau creates statistics to better understand the size and characteristics of different age groups. Agencies use this data to plan and fund government programs that support specific age groups, including children and older adults.

Question 8 
Is Person 1 of Hispanic, Latino or Spanish origin?

These responses help create statistics about this ethnic group. This helps federal agencies monitor compliance with anti-discrimination provisions, such as those in the Voting Rights Act and the Civil Rights Act.

Question 9 
What is Person 1’s race?

This allows the Census Bureau to create statistics about race and to analyze other statistics within racial groups. This data helps federal agencies monitor compliance with anti-discrimination provisions, such as those in the Voting Rights Act and the Civil Rights Act.

Question 10 
Print name of Person 2.

The 2020 Census asks information about each member of your household. This question identifies the next person to refer to in the ensuing questions. This process repeats for each person in your home.

Question 11
Does this person usually live or stay somewhere else? 

This question helps ensure that the Census Bureau is counting everyone once, only once, and in the right place.

Question 12 
How is this person related to Person 1?

This allows the Census Bureau to develop data about families, households, and other groups. Relationship data is used in planning and funding government programs that support families, including people raising children alone.

For more information about the 2020 Census, visit https://2020census.gov/en.html.