The Census is used to allocate seats and draw district lines for the U.S. House of Representatives, state legislatures, and local boards to target more than $800 billion annually in federal assistance to states, tribes and families. Each decade the count also guides community decision-making affecting schools, housing, health care services and business investment. These functions depend on a fair and accurate Census count.
Native Americans in New Mexico could lose political representation if we are undercounted. We currently have six Native American state House districts and three state Senate where the Native American population is over 50%. If Native Americans are undercounted, we could lose these districts at the state and local levels. To read more visit https://nmnativecensus.org/why-get-counted/