Removing Donald Trump from the White House should be mission number one for Democrats—and the nation—in 2020. Come January 20, 2021, there will be no greater relief for the majority of Americans than to watch someone else sworn in as president, and for our long national nightmare to finally be over. Most Americans realize that the census is a tool by which the federal government counts individuals living in the United States, regardless of immigration status. But what makes the census so singularly impactful, is that, with that data, the government determines where it apportions roughly $800 billion toward schools, roads, hospitals, Medicaid, food stamps, unemployment benefits, housing vouchers, programs for seniors and disabled veterans, and so much more. Simply put, being counted has an extraordinary effect on day-to-day American life. And yet, it is often considered an issue more suited for discussing in a civics class than at a political rally. It certainly generates nowhere near the cocktail party chatter, barbeque banter, or social media buzz as Trump’s unseating. The only it time it’s really garnered significant media attention was when the Trump administration tried last year to insert a citizenship question, and thereby depress census participation. Luckily, Democratic resistance led to the move being challenged in the courts, and, in June 2019, the Supreme Court ordered the question’s removal from the census.
Trump wouldn’t have targeted the census if it wouldn’t possibly help his agenda. For that reason, Democrats need to prioritize boosting census turnout for 2020. Democrats must emphasize that census data helps apportion congressional representation among the states, and ensure equal representation through redistricting. The census results provide population data that determine the allocation of seats in the U.S. House of Representatives, as well as state legislative districts, school districts, and voting precincts. Accurate data can help make sure that Congress and state legislatures reflect the increased number of residents who are people of color. These are all issues near and dear to Democrats’ hearts. During the Trump era, democracy is under assault, children are separated from their families at the border, female bodily autonomy is at risk, climate deregulation continues to flourish, and mass shootings have become the norm. Marches, protests, phone calls to elected officials, and social media posts have provided some outlet. But the 2020 census gives individuals a chance to exert power and influence over their daily lives. Of course, census participation has not—as of this writing at least—become a Republican priority. So Democrats will have to lead the charge to demonstrate that completing the census is as critical a civic responsibility as casting one’s vote.