Elrich and Navarro Announce the 2020 Census Complete Count Committee for Montgomery County Get Ready to Get Counted

For Immediate Release: Wednesday, February 13, 2019

It’s time to get counted! County Executive Marc Elrich and Council President and 2020 Census Complete Count Committee Chair Nancy Navarro signed a joint proclamation, Feb. 13, launching the United States 2020 Census outreach activities in Montgomery County and the activation of the Complete Count Committee of Montgomery. 

“We want every person who resides in Montgomery County to be counted,” said Elrich. “We had one of the highest return rates in 2010; and we want to do even better in 2020.  We need an accurate count for all of our diverse population of more than 1 million people in the 2020 Census to make sure Montgomery County receives its fair share of representation in Congress and the Maryland General Assembly and its fair share of federal and state funding. Not having everyone counted can result in a loss of millions of dollars of funds for vital County programs and services.”

Census Day is April 1, 2020; and Montgomery County’s theme for the 2020 integrated partnership and communications campaign is, “Everyone Counts in Montgomery.”   

“We want to use this opportunity to really drive home that ‘Everyone Counts in Montgomery.’ Our County is home to a diverse population with a growing aging community; and in order for us to receive our fair share of funding and representation, we need to communicate to everyone the importance of the 2020 Census,” said Navarro. “Essential services that all the people who live, work, and play here rely on are determined, in part, from census data. However, we are faced with a unique challenge with the 2020 Census: Adding a citizenship question would deter millions of immigrants across the U.S. from participating. This is why I spearheaded a Council resolution in 2018 to oppose the addition of a citizenship question. I was very pleased to see that the proposed citizenship question was blocked by a Federal judge back in January, and I sincerely hope the decision is upheld.”

Montgomery County Government will work with its partners to develop fliers and marketing materials in different languages. The County will also leverage festivals, host a kickoff event in late spring, and work with faith communities and congregations to plan events to promote participation in the 2020 Census.  

The Census Bureau's primary mission is conducting the U.S. Census every 10 years, which allocates the seats of the U.S. House of Representatives to the states based on their population. The bureau's various censuses and surveys help allocate federal funds each year; and it helps states and local jurisdictions make informed decisions such as where to build and maintain schools, hospitals, transportation infrastructure, and public safety departments.

For more information about the United States 2020 Census, visit www.census.gov. For more information on the County’s Census 2020 efforts, contact Diane Vu at 240-777-8320 or via email at diane.vu@montgomerycountymd.gov.

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Release ID: 19-054
Media Contact: Lorna Virgili 240-277-8072