By Brynna Sentel

TheStatehouseFile.com

INDIANAPOLIS— Twenty-three states, including California and Illinois, have allocated large sums of money to the 2020 census to ensure everyone in their communities is counted, but Indiana is relying on existing resources.

After the Trump administration’s attempt to add a citizenship question was blocked by the U.S. Supreme Court, officials in some states are still worried that fear of this question could affect census results by deterring immigrants from participating.

California has allocated as much as $187 million and Illinois invested about $30 million toward the assuring an accurate count.

Indiana, however, is using the resources available to amplify the message of the Census Bureau at the state government level. The exact amount being spent wasn’t available. But there are local efforts to supplement the state’s work—there are 121 complete count committees, all dedicated to ensuring every Hoosier is included.

Without an accurate count, states risk losing seats in the U.S. House of Representatives as well as funding for statewide projects.

Indiana has lost representation as its population grew slower than the rest of the country. From 1873 to 1933, the state had 13 members of Congress. Since 2003 Indiana has had nine representatives, which was reduced from 10 after the 2000 census. This affects the number of electoral votes the state has in presidential elections.

“With all of us working together in 2020, I know we can take our Hoosier count from 6.6 million to 7 million in next year’s census,” said Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch, chair of the Indiana Complete Count Committee for Census 2020, adding it’s important that Hoosier voices aren’t diluted in Congress.

“It is imperative we all are counted so we can receive our tax dollars back from the federal government,” she added. “Accurate counts provide funding for roads, highways, water and sewer lines, broadband, school lunches and other services.”

Currently, Indiana receives 38 percent of its overall spending from the federal government for an array of programs, including education and Medicaid, according to a report released Tuesday by The Pew Charitable Trusts.

The 2020 Census forms should be easier to access than ever because they are available by phone, internet or mail. Language assistance for non-English speakers is also available.

The information Hoosiers provide in the 2020 Census is protected under Title 13 of the United States Code, which does not allow for any information to be used against the respondents but rather to produce statistics.

Brynna Sentel is a reporter for TheStatehouseFile.com, a news website powered by Franklin College journalism students.