Experts: When census is finished, Missouri likely to retain nine congressional seats

State experts predict Missouri will retain its nine Congressional seats, but the count will be close.

Enumerators will wrap up the door-knocking portion of the census in late July, said Lori Simms, spokeswoman for the Missouri Office of Administration.

She said there is a final push to make sure everyone is counted because the difference could mean the loss of federal funds or Congressional representation.

"The most recent estimates were projected that Missouri would retain the seat but it would be a narrow margin," Simms said. She said the state also receives about $1,300 in federal funds for every person counted.

A phone line will be open until July 10 for people who have questions, did not receive their census or have not been visited by an enumerator.

The mail-back rate statewide came in at 73 percent, 1 percent ahead of 2000, Simms said.

She said there was less participation in the counties south of Interstate 70. However, a couple of Southeast Missouri counties increased response numbers. Perry and Ste. Genevieve counties reached an 82 percent participation rate as of April 27, before the door-to-door phase.

Cape Girardeau County's participation rate was 69 percent, even with 2000 participation levels. Stoddard and Bollinger counties had lagging participation rates as of late April. In Bollinger County the participation rate was 59 percent, compared to 67 percent in 2000.

"We're winding down but we're still out in the field," said Sydnee Chattin-Reynolds, deputy regional director in Kansas City, Mo. The office monitors census efforts in Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri and Oklahoma.

She said Missouri's one percent increase in the mail-back rate was significant.

"The more people that mail it in, the less we have to go into the field," she said.

In more rural areas like Southeast Missouri, she said census workers depend more on local efforts to prepare for the count.

"The census is a community census," she said.

Real estate agent Thomas M. Meyer chaired Cape Girardeau's complete count committee.

He said the group of about 20 community leaders made contact with community organizations. Committee members also went door-to-door promoting the census, he said.

"It preceded the census workers themselves, so they were welcomed," he said.

He said his office also has received more calls to check on vacant properties.

"I feel that we're going to come in higher than we did in 2000," he said.

For census questions, call 866-872-6868.

abusch@semissourian.com

388-3627

Pertinent address:

Cape Girardeau, Mo.

Jackson, Mo.

Perry County, Mo.

Bollinger County, Mo.