Michigan, like other northern states, has plenty of "snowbirds" -- that is, residents who travel to warmer climates during the winter months. In this census year, it is critical that the snowbirds who call Michigan their usual residence answer the census form in their home state of Michigan.
Why is this important? Because Michigan can lose up to $200 million in federal funds per year ($2 billion per decade) and may also lose a seat in the U.S. House if snowbirds are not included in the Michigan census.
The League of Women Voters, a partner of the Census 2010 Complete Count Committee, offers this solution: Snowbirds receiving a census form at their winter retreat should enter "0" for the number of people living at their winter address and then write only these words, "Usual residence elsewhere" so the person reading the form understands why "0" was entered. When they return to Michigan, they can fill out the census form that was delivered to their Michigan address or wait until a census worker visits them at their Michigan home. There is no penalty for having a census worker make a home visit.
Census forms are delivered to households, not to individuals. The form does not ask where you live, nor is there a place on the form to indicate a primary address if you respond to the form from your winter retreat.
Every U.S. resident should be counted by the census once at the residence where they live most of the year. Counting Michigan snowbirds as residents of another state reduces Michigan's political influence in Congress, reduces the level of federal funding received by state and local agencies, and reduces the accuracy of the census data.
Help Michigan be counted correctly: Please circulate this information to your snowbird friends so that Michigan can receive all the resources it deserves.
About the author: Donna S. Hornberger is president of the League of Women Voters Grand Traverse Area.
About the forum: The forum is a periodic column of opinion written by Record-Eagle readers in their areas of interest or expertise. Submissions of 500 words or less may be made by e-mailing letters@record-eagle.com. Please include biographical information and a photo.
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