Texas residents are now receiving invitations to participate in the 2020 U.S. Census, and an accurate count is important for the state, especially rural Texas.

A postcard asks each Texas home to respond to a short census questionnaire online, by phone or by mail. Postcards from the U.S. Census Bureau are expected through March 20.

The 2020 U.S. Census marks the first time that responses can be submitted online. A sample form is available online for anyone who wants to practice before filling out the real one.

Reminder letters from the U.S. Census Bureau should arrive toward the end of March. Households that haven’t responded by the beginning of April will eventually receive a paper questionnaire.

The results of the census determine the number of seats each state will have in the U.S. House of Representatives and its number of electoral votes in presidential elections. Texas is expected to pick up as many as three new Congressional seats from the 2020 U.S. Census.

Results are also used to draw congressional and state legislative districts. Businesses rely on data from the census for market research, locations and economic development.

“It’s very important that our Texas census count is as accurate as possible,” Texas Farm Bureau Director of Government Affairs Regan Beck said. “Everyone needs to participate. The census count in rural Texas is particularly important, because there is a risk of losing rural representation with so much population growth in other areas of the state since the last census in 2010.”

By March 31, 2021, the Census Bureau will send redistricting counts to states. This information is used to redraw legislative districts based on population changes.

The 2020 U.S. Census will mark the 24th time that the country has counted its population since 1790. For more information, visit https://2020census.gov.