Officials urge city residents to complete U.S. Census forms

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City officials are strongly urging that all Birmingham residents who have not yet completed their forms for the 2020 U.S. Census do so as soon as possible as the deadline draws closer.

The Census was delayed nationwide by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, but the U.S. Census Bureau announced in August it will end all counting efforts on Sept. 30. That includes door-to-door efforts, as well as collecting responses online, over the phone and by mail. 

“We need for all of our residents, churches and community groups to get involved and help with Census participation,” City Council President William Parker said in a news release on August 31. “We need every single person to do their part and fill out the questionnaire so Birmingham can continue moving forward.”  

Throughout the Census, city, county and state officials have said that Alabama needs the broadest possible participation in order to avoid the loss of billions of dollars of federal funding over the next decade and even one of the state’s congressional seats in Congress.

As the state’s largest city, Birmingham plays a big role in how many Congressional seats Alabama will retain. So far, the level of participation in the city is not very good, officials say.

Carletta Singleton — Partnership Coordinator for the U.S. Census Bureau — told the City Council at its regular meeting for Tuesday, September 1, that roughly 53 percent of city residents have completed their forms.

“On August 11, Census workers began going door to door asking people to complete their questionnaires and engaging with them in the process,” Singleton said.

“We will have one last mailing of the questionnaires that will go out in a couple weeks to people who have still not completed their Census forms,” she said.

Mayor Randall Woodfin, in his report to the Council on Tuesday, even made "a direct appeal" to city residents who have completed their forms to take a role in further boosting participation.

"Please take time over the next week or two to take a few seconds to knock on your own neighbor's door — to the left and the right — and ask them if they've filled out their Census, and if they haven't encourage them to."

Parker said that the Council will continue its efforts in the remaining weeks to encourage residents to participate. “This is going to continue to be a priority for us and we are willing to do whatever we can to help increase participation,” Parker said. “It is in the city’s best interests and everyone who lives here to engage with their neighbors, friends and family about the Census.”