The census impacts everyone from seniors to students, kids and parents and our local businesses and neighborhoods. Participating in the census is a civic duty as important as voting to our democracy.

To help get the word out, the state of Michigan has launched the Be Counted campaign to communicate the importance of completing the census, dispel myths and help ensure every Michigander is counted in the 2020 Census.

The census form is available in several different languages in addition to English, including Arabic. You are not required to be a citizen in order to complete the 2020 Census and there are no citizenship questions on the census form.

The census takes place every 10 years with the goal of counting everyone living in the United States. Invitations to complete the 2020 Census will begin arriving in mailboxes across Southeast Michigan in March.

For the first time, the census can be filled out online, as well as by phone or mail, making it more convenient than ever.

Also, your information is 100 percent confidential and by law cannot be shared with anyone. Census data is only used to produce demographic statistics and will not be used in a way that will identify you or your household.

Completing the 2020 Census is critical to the future of our state. There is $3,000 at stake for every person who completes the census form.

The 2020 Census will ask questions about the number of people living in your household on April 1, 2020, and ask their names, ages, genders, race, dates of birth, relationship status, phone numbers and whether your home is owned or rented.

Participation in the census determines funding for local communities and essential services, including public safety, schools, housing, health care and senior programs. Michigan receives nearly $30 billion per year in federal funding for these and many other critical programs. Census numbers also help determine how many congressional seats Michigan will have.

Be sure to fill out your census form and Be Counted in 2020. To learn more, visit www.michigan.gov/census2020/.

By Kerry Ebersole Singh

– Kerry Ebersole Singh is Michigan’s 2020 Census executive director.