Pritzker makes final case for 2020 Census in Carbondale

With only days remaining until the Sept. 30 deadline, Carbondale officials are making a full-court press to get every last household in the city to fill out the 2020 Census - and they say the stakes couldn't be any higher.

Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker even came to town Thursday morning to implore action on the part of the city's residents, who have responded to the Census at a rate 20 points lower than the state average, Pritzker said.

The governor urged local residents to "get this right for southern Illinois" and respond while there's still time.

The national population count, conducted once every 10 years, is used not only to disburse federal funding for the next decade, but also to draw congressional districts. In Carbondale, further concerns revolve around the city's future home rule status, which is dictated by population.

"Getting a complete count is work that will help us for the next decade," Pritzker said.

Pritzker appeared Thursday in front of the Carbondale Main Street office with a collection of speakers that included Mayor Mike Henry, Carbondale Main Street Executive Director Meghan Cole, and Carl Flowers, project director for the Carbondale Branch NAACP.

Cumulatively, they addressed many of the unique challenges that have faced the 2020 count, including the COVID-19 pandemic and increasing distrust in the federal government.

However, Pritzker and others stressed the confidential nature of the responses, as well as the legal and civic obligations to respond.

"The stakes could not be higher," Pritzker said.

The survey, which takes under 10 minutes to complete, can be done online at 2020census.gov.