There’s a renewed push to count only citizens in the U.S. Census. At first glance, it sounds reasonable. But remember, the census is not about who can vote; it’s about who should be represented by Congress.
For over 200 years, the Constitution has required us to count persons, not just citizens. That’s because representation belongs to all who live here — citizens, immigrants, children, the elderly.
The census counts people because government is meant to serve people — regardless of proof. A citizenship-only census would shift power away from diverse, working communities and toward areas with fewer immigrants. It would reduce funding for schools, hospitals and roads — hurting millions of American citizens in the process.
And to enforce it? Every one of us would be asked to prove our citizenship. Birth certificate? Passport? What if you can’t find yours? You wouldn’t count.
We don’t require permission to exist. We count every person because every person counts. Do you want to live in a country where you have to prove you’re a citizen just to be a person?
David Farnsworth
Lindon