Do Your Part: Participate In The Census

This week and for one week in April, May and June, the Lottery is running special messages on its lotto tickets encouraging everyone to participate in the 2010 U.S. Census.

If you’ve bought a lotto ticket this week, look at the top. We hope the message you see is self-explanatory:

Fill it out! Mail it in!
Census 2010.

President Obama has issued a statement explaining the importance of the Census to the nation. But it also matters on a state-by-state basis. 

The census determines the number of seats Iowa has in the U.S. Congress along with the boundaries for legislative districts and local precincts. But it also will determine the distribution of billions of dollars to our state and local communities.

A complete and accurate census count will ensure that we Iowans receive the political representation and funding we deserve.

The Iowa Lottery also ran messages on its tickets in 2000, encouraging people to participate in that year’s Census. We think it made a difference!

Iowa had top ranking in 2000 in getting its residents counted, with 76 percent of households returning census forms. Minnesota, Nebraska and Wisconsin tied for second at 75 percent, while South Dakota came in third at 74 percent.

Can Iowa repeat its No. 1 status this year? You’ll help determine the answer! When you get your Census form this month, take a few minutes to fill it out and mail it back. Be counted for Iowa!