US Census 2020 in New Mexico
The upcoming 2020 US Census is an area of critical concern for New Mexico.
The LWVNM has made the 2020 census a priority: we will be trying to assist New Mexico's count with education and outreach.
Some Numbers
The Albuquerque Journal points out that counting every resident of New Mexico in the 2020 census is critically important, because New Mexico could lose $750 million over 10 years for every 1 percent undercount: Census accuracy crucial to NM’s federal funding.
New Mexico was undercounted by nearly 2 percent in the 2000 Census and had the second lowest response rate in the country during the 2010 Census.
Undercounting may be an even bigger problem in 2020, because 2020 is the first year the Census will be conducted primarily online; this could be a challenge for rural New Mexico communities with poor or no internet access. There is also concern about the proposed citizenship question.
Fortunately, Governor Lujan has signed Executive Order 2019-007, establishing the New Mexico 2020 Complete Count Commission, to begin to address these issues.
Census Dates
- June-August 2019: Area Census Offices Open
- August-October 2019: Address Canvassing, select areas
- November 2019: In-Office Address Canvass
- Early 2020: Group Quarters start
- March 23, 2020: Self response starts
- April 1, 2020: Official Census Day
- May 2010: Non-response follow-up
- July 2020: Reminders for those who haven't responded online
- August 2020: Data collection complete
- December 31, 2020: Census data is officially delivered
Census Offices
New Mexico will have two census offices, in Albuquerque and Las Cruces. Farmington and San Juan County will be supported by the Window Rock, AZ office.
Apply for Census Jobs
- https://2020census.gov/jobs: Office positions, Field staff, apply NOW for all positions
- www.usajobs.gov: Partnership jobs
Outside Links
- New Mexico Counts, 2020
- Video of Brookings Institute Discussion, Part I
- Video of Brookings Institute Discussion, Part II
- Municipal Action Guide: Preparing for the 2020 Census, from the National League of Cities (PDF, 16M)
- League of Women Voters (US) Census Action Toolkit
- Census Counts
- Complete Count Committees: How to Get Involved