Voting Matters: Census connects federal money and your taxes
Special to The Westerly Sun, March 19, 2020 By Marguerite Long, Chairwoman of the Voter Registration Committee, League of Women Voters South County

• Register to vote if you have yet to do so at Vote 411 or at R.I. Secretary of State.
• Get the latest updates on R.I.'s upcoming elections and learn more about voting-by-mail at R.I. Board of Elections and what the League is doing.
• Fill out the 2020 U.S. Census. We want to ensure that Rhode Island continues to receive the federal funding it deserves, and we keep two U.S. House Representatives.
• Support the League's People Powered Fair Maps campaign and ensure that R.I. puts the power of drawing districts in the hands of ordinary Rhode Islanders and not legislators. Sign a petition and show your support for proposed amendments to the R.I. Constitution to create an independent redistricting commission at Redraw RI.
• Read the House or Senate bills that would pave the way for an independent redistricting commission in Rhode Island.

Starting on March 12, households will receive a postcard in the mail inviting them to fill out the census online for the first time ever. The Census is only nine questions, will take about ten minutes, and will impact us for the next ten years. You can be invaluable to ensure everyone will be counted where they live on April 1, 2020.