ATLANTA – House Speaker David Ralston (R-Blue Ridge) encourages residents in Fannin, Gilmer and Dawson counties to participate in the 2020 U.S. Census before the September 30 deadline. As of September 14, Georgia’s self-response rate is 61.1 percent, which is behind the national average of 65.7 percent. The response rate in Fannin County is 38.1 percent; Gilmer County’s response rate is 46.3 percent; and Dawson County’s response rate is 61.1 percent.
“The census was envisioned by our founders and enshrined in our Constitution as a way to accurately and fairly allocate representation and resources,” said Speaker David Ralston. “Participation is important and it is easy – taking no more than a few minutes. I encourage everyone to respond to the census so that our region receives the funding our growing communities deserve.”
The 2020 U.S. Census ensures accurate representation for districts at both the state and federal level. The number of Georgians counted in the census also helps direct federal funding to local communities for health care, emergency and disaster response, education and infrastructure. For demographic purposes, large and small businesses may also base their future planning on the census results.
Georgians can respond to the 2020 U.S. Census online at my2020census.gov, which takes approximately five minutes to complete. Households may also call 844-330-2020 or fill out and return the official U.S. Census Bureau mail that they may have received. Households have through September 30 to respond to the census, but they are encouraged to respond as soon as possible.
Additionally, the Governor’s Complete Count Committee (CCC) and his nonpartisan initiative called “Every. One. Counts.” have been working to ensure that every Georgia resident is counted.
For more information on Georgia’s participation in the census, please visit https://census.georgia.gov or follow @gacensus2020 on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
For more information on the “Every. One. Counts.” initiative, please click here.
Representative David Ralston represents the citizens of District 7, which includes Fannin and Gilmer counties, as well as portions of Dawson County. He was elected to the House of Representatives in 2002 and is the 73rd Speaker of the House.
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