Census workers will be set up in front of the Scott County Court House every day this week from 11 a.m.-5 p.m.
Scott County Judge James Forbes announced on Monday that the workers will assist people with filling out the census form. You are reminded to maintain social distancing of 6-feet. If that is not possible, then you will need to wear a mask.
Scott County sits at a response rate of 42.2 percent, well below the Arkansas average of 56.8 percent. The low response rate prompted a response by State Representative Marcus Richmond. “It is disheartening to see Scott County as one of the lowest response counties in the state for census participation. The results will be an inaccurate count which will adversely affect the residents of Scott County. You will lose influence in the competition for resources to those counties within the state that have a more accurate count. Your influence in State and Congressional Districts elections will be diminished as more and more communities must be added to achieve the required number of residents. Eventually you will no longer have state candidates originating from the rural areas of Western Arkansas. State wide candidates will not consider it necessary to campaign in our area and the voice of rural Arkansas will be further diminished. Future candidates for state office will find it unnecessary to live or campaign south of the greater Fort Smith area. Fort Smith will have multiple Representatives living in their area and Southern Sebastian County south to Mena will have a distant Representative uninformed and unconcerned about issues that affect residents living in rural Western Arkansas. So please participate. Your participation in the Census does make a difference.”
