Almost half of Mississippi households have self-respond to the 2020 Census. 48.4 percent of Mississippi households as of April 21, below the national average of 50.7 percent. Winston County is above the state and nation with 52.5 percent but still trails other counties in the state.
The Self-response rate is increasing, but the growth rate is slow since from April 4 until April 22nd, self-response only grew 4.2 percent.
Mississippi rank continues to slowly decrease as well. As of April 21, Mississippi is now ranked 34, one rank lower than the previous week. There are two southern states outranking Mississippi in self-response: These are Tennessee (50.0%), Alabama (49.5%), the other states ranking behind Mississippi are Arkansas (47%), Louisiana (46.3%), and Georgia (47.9%).
For the third week in a row, Madison (57.8%), DeSoto (56%), Union (54.1%), Tate (53.5%) and Rankin (53.5%) counties are among the top five highest-responding counties. Over 20 counties have response rates of 50% or more. Franklin (30%), Jasper (29.2%), Tallahatchie (24.8%), Issaquena (23.9%) and Wilkinson (19.9%) counties remain the five lowest-responding counties.
While field operations remain suspended due to COVID-19, and many of Mississippi households were affected by the recent outbreaks of tornadoes, the 2020 Census outreach has been a challenge.
Starting in May, One Voice and other groups will be hosting a statewide phone banking campaign. Each Tuesday and Thursday during the month from 4:00 - 7:00 p.m. calls will be made to encourage the low self-response communities to participate in the census.
Official Census Bureau invitations with detailed information on how to respond to the 2020 census were mailed to households between March 12-20. Residents who have not already done so can respond online, by phone or by mail.
When you respond to the census, you'll tell the Census Bureau where you live as of April 1. Individual census information is kept confidential.
The census can be completed online by visiting http://mscensus2020.org. Just hit the blue “Complete My Census Now” button. Although some people have received their census invitation in the mail, you can complete your census online without an invitation by simply selecting “Start Questionnaire.” If you do not have a 12-digit code from a paper invitation, click the link on the login screen that says: “If you do not have a Census ID, click here.”
The census determines population counts in all geographic areas for the next decade. Since the census occurs only once every 10 years, these numbers will influence federal allocations throughout the 2020s. The more undercounted Mississippi is, the less funding the state receives.
In 2010, Mississippi was among the bottom 10 in the country in response rates.
According to John Green, director of the Mississippi Center for Population Studies at the University of Mississippi and one of the executive members of the Mississippi Complete Count Committee, every person not counted in the census represents approximately $50,000 in federal funding over 10 years.
“Mississippi undercounted by about 265,000 people in 2010, representing $13.2 billion left on the table,” said Green. “That’s a lot of money we could have used. We can all change the path for Mississippi and help the state get our share of the dollars by completing our census and encouraging others to do the same.”
“The committee encourages everyone in Mississippi to complete your census and then offer your guidance to friends and family members,” adds former state Sen. Giles Ward, chairman. “You may know of someone who is elderly and has failing eyesight or someone else who has no idea of the importance. Let’s work together and get this done!”
The U.S. Census bureau will mail paper questionnaires to those who do not complete the census online, followed by phone calls. In-person, door-to-door visitation has been postponed until a plan can be made in light of the coronavirus pandemic.
