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Tuesday, 27 April, 2010 2:09 PM
Michigan and
Ohio Declare a 'Tie' in Their Race for the Higher 2010 Census Mail
Participation Rate
Both
States Surpass National Average
Graphic
credit: www.kittybradshaw.com
U.S.
Census logo
WASHINGTON
-- U.S. Census Bureau Director Robert Groves today congratulated
the residents and governors of Michigan and Ohio following the announcement
that their friendly wager to see which state achieved the higher
2010 Census mail participation rate as of April 22, 2010, ended
in a tie.
In both states, 75 percent of households mailed back their 2010
Census forms prior to the Earth Day deadline they imposed for purposes
of the challenge. Interestingly, both states also tied during the
2000 Census.
"Even
though neither state 'won' this challenge, in reality they both
won," Groves said. "A strong mail response rate increases
the likelihood that each state will achieve a complete and accurate
count. This will help ensure that both Michigan and Ohio get their
fair share of federal funding and congressional representation."
Earlier
this month, Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm and Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland
took on the 2010 Census "Take 10" Challenge to inspire
their communities to achieve higher mail participation rates than
they achieved during the 2000 Census. Even though the Census Bureau
has not announced the final mail participation rates, the states
chose the Earth Day deadline in their challenge to coordinate an
Arbor Day victory presentation. The winning state was to donate
a specimen from their state tree for planting in a spot chosen by
the state that didn't win. With the challenge ending in a tie, each
state will plant their state tree in honor of the wager.
"I
appreciate that so many Ohioans took the time to stand up and be
counted and I'm proud that we rallied back from a deficit of several
points to tie Michigan," Strickland said. "In the end,
both states are winners and several percentage points ahead of the
national average. I thank my friend Gov. Granholm for proposing
this friendly competition between our two states. And I encourage
those Ohioans who have not yet responded to make themselves available
to census workers in the coming weeks. An accurate count will ensure
Ohio receives resources for education, job-training services and
infrastructure projects that will help us build a stronger Ohio."
"Michigan
citizens are responding to the census in record numbers, making
them the real champions in the friendly wager with our neighbors
to the south," said Granholm. "By returning their census
forms they are ensuring that Michigan will get its share of more
than $400 billion in federal funding. Governor Strickland is a good
friend and I am pleased we provided him with an added incentive
to get Ohioans to respond to the census in record numbers, too.
To my fellow Michiganians who have not yet responded to the census,
we look forward to you being included in our final census count.
And to my fellow Governor I say, you're welcome."
The Census
Bureau will post updates to the participation rate on its Web site
(http://2010.census.gov/2010census/take10map/)
through today, and plans to announce results at an April 28 news
conference in Washington.
Nationwide,
71 percent of households had mailed back their census forms as of
Thursday, April 22. The "Take 10" Challenge for the nation
is to exceed the mail participation rate of 72 percent achieved
a decade ago — when America reversed a three-decade decline
in mail participation.
Beginning
May 1, hundreds of thousands of census takers will begin visiting
households that did not return or receive a census form.
ABOUT
THE 2010 CENSUS
The 2010
Census is a count of everyone living in the United States and is
mandated by the U.S. Constitution. Census data are used to apportion
congressional seats to states, to distribute more than $400 billion
in federal funds to tribal, state and local governments each year
and to make decisions about what community services to provide.
The 2010 Census form is one of the shortest in U.S. history, consisting
of 10 questions, taking about 10 minutes to complete. Strict confidentiality
laws protect the respondents and the information they provide.
Source: U.S. Census
Bureau
Click
here for more information on the U.S. Census.
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