With everything happening this year from the pandemic to the protests for racial justice to the election, the 2020 Census may be the last thing on your mind. But it is one of the most important developments this year. And as we head into September, we face an urgent deadline at the end of the month.

The Census will determine how much federal funding Colorado receives for vital priorities like infrastructure, affordable housing, school lunches, and community development. It also will determine whether Colorado, which is one of the fastest growing states in America, receives the number of seats we deserve in the U.S. House of Representatives.

To put a finer point on it, if we don’t accurately count every Coloradan in the Census, we could lose our fair share of federal resources and representation for a decade.

The good news is that Colorado currently has a 68% response rate  statewide – higher than the national average. The bad news is that our response rates in rural communities and communities of color are much lower. In Costilla County in the San Luis Valley , for example, the response rate is only 27% – down nearly 10 points from its rate in 2010. This pattern holds in far too many places across our state. We can and must do better.

A few weeks ago, I had a call with different groups leading the effort to count everyone in our state, especially from communities that have been historically left out. Despite the pandemic, these groups are working around the clock to get an accurate count – but they need our support.

Here are three actions you can take right now:

1. If you haven’t yet responded to the 2020 Census, it is not too late. You can fill out the Census online through this link  or by calling 844-330-2020. You have until September 30. Earlier this year, the Census Bureau decided to cut short the count by a month. I wrote  to the Bureau urging them to maintain their original response deadline of October 31, and I will continue to push for more time in the days ahead.

2. Encourage your friends and neighbors to respond if they haven’t already. Call, text, or post on social media. Share information from local groups like Together We Count , Servicios De La Raza , Boomers Leading Change , and the local Catholic Charities  or Boys and Girls Club .

3. Fight misinformation with facts. There is a lot of misinformation about the 2020 Census that may keep Coloradans from participating. All of us have to push back with the facts: You don’t have to be a citizen to respond; the information you provide to the Census is strictly confidential; and finally, no personal details you share will be given to law enforcement at any level.

It is critical that Coloradans work together to get the most accurate possible count in the 2020 Census. There are only a few weeks left, so we all need to do everything we can to reach our friends, family, and neighbors to respond by September 30.

Colorado’s future depends on it.

Thank you,

Michael