Jefferson City and Cole County officials are working together to encourage residents to participate in the 2020 Census.

Cole County Geographic Information Systems Manager Melissa Johnson is representing the county on a committee of officials looking at how to get people to fill out their census forms. This group will also include representatives from smaller communities in the county.

They plan to work with schools, churches and other civic groups to spread the word about the need to fill out the census forms, Johnson said during Tuesday's Cole County Commission meeting.

Census workers began canvassing neighborhoods Aug. 1 to ensure addresses are correct for maps census takers will use when they go door-to-door next year.

Census officials have said Cole County has a rate six times higher than the national participation average, but in areas with a large number of rental properties, such as Westview Heights, the participation is not as high as people move in and out fairly regularly.

This will be the first time residents can fill out census forms online. Forms may also be submitted by mail and by telephone.

Forms should arrive around April 1, Johnson said. After 45 days, those who haven't filled out the 10-question form will be visited by a census worker.

Johnson and other county officials emphasize census information remains confidential.

By law, the Census Bureau cannot share answers with anyone, even other government agencies.

In light of recent announcements of callers claiming to be conducting census surveys, officials noted census workers will never ask for a resident's Social Security number, bank account or credit card numbers. They do not solicit donations, promise gifts or ask anyone to pay money to complete the census. The Census Bureau will not contact anyone by email or phone.

The information gathered in the census can affect benefits for states, counties and cities. In the last census, Missouri lost a congressional seat.