League of Women Voters Reminds Residents to be Counted in the 2020 Census 

(Eastern Bergen County, New Jersey; April 27, 2020) — Once every ten years, people in in the United States can participate in its democracy by responding to the Census.  This opportunity transcends immigrant status, income level, and all barriers to a fair and equal democracy.  The League of Women Voters of Northern Valley is committed to ensuring a complete count occurs this decade.

Although public health and safety is critical during the COVID-19 pandemic, the United States Constitution requires the U.S. Census Bureau undertake a count of the population each decade.  “Everyone must fulfill their constitutional obligation to complete the 2020 Census and count every person in the United States.  The country’s future depends on this.  The Census form can be completed easily online at 2020census.gov, over the phone, or by mail,” said Joyce Luhrs, Vice President of Marketing, League of Women Voters of Northern Valley.

Ensuring a complete and accurate count is critical to federal funding, political representation, and economic development.  In 2010, New Jersey lost a seat in the House of Representatives due to the Census count results.   If people are underrepresented in the 2020 Census count, important public services will receive less funding.  Each year, New Jersey receives almost 23 billion dollars in federal funding for social service programs, including Medicare, Head Start, Section 8 Housing Vouchers, the National School Lunch Program, roads, libraries, health clinics, and other essential programs.  Businesses also use Census data to decide where to build and grow, directly affecting New Jersey’s economic development.

The Census is safe and confidential.  Under Title 13 of the U.S. Code, the responses and all information are protected by federal law and cannot be shared with law enforcement agencies.  Answers can only be used to provide statistics and cannot be used against a responder.

Get Involved

“Tell friends, families, houses of worship, local governments, schools, and other community groups you are involved with complete the Census and to make sure your community gets counted.  By answering ten easy questions from the comfort of your home, you can do your part to ensure your community and its needs are known,” said Luhrs.

National, state and local Leagues are undertaking activities and actions to ensure a complete count of the population.  People interested in learning more or in helping with this effort may contact Shannon Currie, LWVNV member and 2020 Census Coordinator, at scurrie@bsgco.com.  For more information about the League of Women Voters of Northern Valley, contact lwvno.valley@gmail.com.

About League of Women Voters of Northern Valley

The League of Women Voters (LWV), a non-partisan political organization, encourages informed and active participation in government, works to increase understanding of public policy issues and influences public policy through education and advocacy.  The nonprofit organization was an outgrowth of the 19th Amendment passed in 1920 giving women the right to vote.  Today, the LWV operates at the state and local levels through more than 700 state and local Leagues in all 50 states and in Washington D.C., the Virgin Islands and Hong Kong.

The League of Women Voters of Northern Valley was founded in 1946 as the League of Women Voters of Closter.  By 1964, the chapter expanded to include 11 municipalities in the Northern Valley and was renamed the League of Women Voters of Northern Valley.  The organization develops grassroots leadership and achieves widespread credibility because it is strictly nonpartisan.  Throughout the year, a range of voters services and programs are provided, including candidates’ forums, registration drives, dissemination of nonpartisan information about candidates and issues, and public meetings to discuss current issues.

The LWVNV draws members from 29 municipalities in Bergen County, New Jersey.  These municipalities include:  Alpine, Bergenfield, Cliffside Park, Closter, Cresskill, Demarest, Dumont, Edgewater, Emerson, Englewood, Englewood Cliffs, Fort Lee, Hackensack, Harrington Park, Haworth, Hillsdale, Leonia, Montvale, New Milford, Northvale, Norwood, Old Tappan, Park Ridge, River Vale, Rockleigh, Tenafly, Washington Township, Westwood and Woodcliff Lake.

For more information about the League of Women Voters of Northern Valley, contact lwvno.valley@gmail.com.  Learn more about the chapter on its webpage,  lwvbergen.org/about-us-more/northern-valley-information/.  Updates are posted on Facebook, www.facebook.com/LeagueofWomenVotersNorthernValley/, and Twitter at twitter.com/LeagueNValley.

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