Why should you complete the Census 2020? Here’s how the census helps you and your community:

• Communities use the information to plan bus routes, draw school district boundaries, and offer community services such as law enforcement, fire and ambulance services.

• Businesses use census data to decide where to put a store, office, or plant. These new locations create jobs and support the community’s economy.

• Businesses use the information to determine what to sell in their stores so communities get what they need.

• The information helps your community receive funding from the federal government.

• Census data determines representation in Congress and determines how funds are spent in communities on thing like roads, schools, public parks and swimming pools and hospitals.

Our country gets one chance each decade to count its population as mandated by Article 1, Section 2 of the U.S. Constitution. The U.S. Census Bureau counts everyone living in the United States. Where there are more people, there are more needs. If people aren’t counted, it will impact the flow of funding into communities for critical programs and services.

The 2020 Census is using a new design that incorporates online and phone response options in addition to the traditional paper option. The online response option allows people to respond on their desktop computers, laptops, smartphones, or tablets.

The Lake Andes Carnegie Public Library located at 500 Main Street is providing free computer usage and help if needed for patrons to complete the Census 2020. The library is practicing social distancing, and hand sanitizer is available, as well as masks for those entering the building.

The library is offering an incentive to anyone having a Lake Andes address who completes the Census 2020. Qualifying residents will have their name placed in a drawing for a Lenovo tab 4 8. The Lenovo tab is comparable to an I-pad, but is more compact measuring 4” by 6” and has all of the capabilities of a small laptop computer. If you are completing your Census 2020 by mail, online on your personal computer or phone, take a picture and show it to library staff to be entered in the drawing.

As a concerned citizen of Lake Andes, I would like to see improvements made in our community. In order for our community to qualify for grants and loans, we need the information gained by having everyone complete the Census 2020. As of 6/11/20 Charles Mix County has a completion rate of the Census at 27.9% compared to the state of SD community completion rate of 60.3%. The Yankton Sioux Tribal area is at 19.1% with the city of Lake Andes at 9.3%.

Many times I hear people say, “I am not filling out that Census 2020 because I don’t want the government knowing all my personal information.” The Census 2020 information can’t be shared with anyone. Title 13 of the U.S. Code protects the confidentiality of personally identifiable information provided in census responses, including citizenship status. Federal law prohibits the Census Bureau from sharing personally identifiable information with other government agencies. Census staff members take a lifetime oath to protect census responses with severe penalties for violations. The law prohibits personally identifiable information collected by the Census Bureau from being used against respondents by any government agency.

Our community is counting on you. So what are you waiting for?