Oklahoma Self-Reporting Census Count Falls Behind Other States

Oklahoma is falling behind neighboring states in self-reporting for the U.S. Census.

The Census Bureau said just over 52 percent of Oklahomans have already self-reported for the 2020 census.

But that's still lower than neighboring states.

Kansas for example has a 10 percent higher reporting rate.

Dennis Johnson, the Census Bureau’s Deputy Regional Director, said there could be a good reason for that.

Not all rural areas in Oklahoma have received their packet in the mail yet but should get it sometime this week.

If you don't want to respond by mail, you can also do it online, and put in your address or call a toll-free phone number.

Johnson said because of the coronavirus, they also have asked for an extension from Congress until early 2021.

Still, he encourages everyone to self-report because it will make their job easier when census employees go door to door later this summer to count people who have not reported.

"We do encourage that response,” said Johnson. “We do want people to respond and make sure they're counted and represented. I don't want any state, Oklahoma or any other state, to be underrepresented."

Nearly 56 percent of Tulsans have responded to the census, but that's slightly behind Oklahoma City.

That's bad news for people here, because both cities have entered a fun challenge.

If Tulsa has a higher response rate than OKC, our city flag will fly at their city hall, and vice-versa if we lose.