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Kansas, Missouri boast relatively high census response rates

Constitutionally mandated headcount ends Sept. 30
Virus Outbreak 2020 Census
Posted at 12:45 PM, Sep 02, 2020
and last updated 2020-09-02 13:45:16-04

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Kansas has the fourth-highest response rate to the 2020 census.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 92.1% of households in Kansas have responded to the census, which will wrap up data collection operations at the end of the month.

Only Idaho (97%), West Virginia (94.2%) and Washington (92.6%) have higher overall response rates as of Sept. 1 than Kansas, which ranks above above the national average with a 68.7% self-response rate.

The national average for self-responses is 65%, but residents who have yet to respond may still fill out the census online through the end of September.

Missouri ranks 13th in census participation at 87.9% despite lagging below the national average for self-reporting.

Only 64.7% of Missouri households responded to the census.

Just shy of a quarter of the total responses in Kansas (23.4%) and Missouri (23.2%) were recorded through follow-up visits.

Six states have an overall response rate at 75% or below with the Sept. 30 deadline for completing the constitutionally required, 10-year, coast-to-coast headcount fast approaching.

The census results will determine if there are any adjustments to the number of seats in the U.S. House of Representatives based on population shifts.

It is also used for appropriations of federal dollars for infrastructure, transportation and other government programs.