Governor Phil Scott has signed onto a bipartisan letter calling on the U.S. Dept. of Commerce and the U.S. Census Bureau to restore the deadline for the 2020 U.S. Census, which has been moved from Oct. 31 to Sept. 30.
In addition to Gov. Scott, the letter was signed by the governors of Oregon, Colorado, Washington, Michigan, Illinois, North Carolina, and New York.
“The Census determines Vermonters’ access to federal funding, and we won’t get another shot until 2030,” said Scott. “It is essential that our federal partners honor the original deadline to ensure a complete and accurate count of every Vermont community. And it is very important for Vermonters to be sure they are counted.”
The letter cites concerns about reaching a 100% response rate by the adjusted deadline. Those most likely to be left out include: children, seniors, those living in rural areas and those with limited internet access.