Census count totals improving

New Mexico’s count totals for the U.S. Census have improved in recent weeks, but state officials implored residents to make sure their friends, family and neighbors have been counted before the end of the month.

Pamela Coleman, director of state personnel, said Thursday during a governor’s briefing that 88.6% of New Mexicans have been counted in the decennial census through Sept. 16.

She said 57.1% of that total is self-reported, and another 31.5% were reported by census workers.

Barely half of New Mexico residents had completed the census by mid-August.

The deadline to finish counts for the 2020 Census is Sept. 30.

Coleman said residents should take these steps to ensure a more accurate count in the state:

• Call or text their family members, friends and neighbors about the census;

• Send emails to colleagues about the count;

• Share posts on Facebook from the @ICountNM2020 page;

• Send newsletters from icountnm.gov/resources.

New Mexico receives about $7.8 billion in federal funds each year. Coleman has said each person who’s not counted in the census held every 10 years could cost the state $1 million. That could mean fewer hospital beds, firetrucks and vaccines for certain regions.

Article 1, Section 2 of the U.S. Constitution requires a periodic “enumeration” of every person in the United States to determine the distribution of political representation.

Those who want to be counted or are looking for more information on the U.S. Census should go to 2020census.gov or call 844-330-2020.