Bureau says Oklahoma is lagging in filling out 2020 Census

TULSA, Okla. (KTUL) — There's an effort underway by the U.S. Census Bureau to make sure Oklahoma gets up to speed before time runs out.

Although Sept. 30 is a month earlier than originally planned and still contentious, it remains the current deadline to total the national population.

When it comes to self-responses, Oklahoma is rated at the bottom compared to the rest of the country.

"Tulsa is one of those areas where we are concerned, we are giving them the last push to respond," said Michael Cook, Chief of the Public Information Officer for the U.S. Census Bureau.

As of Friday, the bureau still needed to visit 56 million addresses nationwide for a complete count.

Field workers are now in the Tulsa area, and across the state. They are setting up at public locations in low-responding areas and going door to door to houses.

"I know it might not look like we are doing that great, but people are going door to door," said Cook.

Census workers will have a photo ID, wear a mask, and provide a contactless process using an iPhone.

Undercounted communities are at risk of losing greatly--from representatives in Congress to money for roads, bridges, schools, healthcare, and natural disasters.

Cook says the bureau will visit a home up to six times. They are also increasing staff work hours and pay to try and get responses by the deadline.

A federal judge ordered the Census to stop the September 30 deadline from happening. There's a court hearing on the matter Sept. 17.