Welcome.
It's been a month since I launched [chyaa bé-bé], so I wanted to officially welcome you all. This blog is a space for converging my multiple lives as an artist and activist, West Coast-born East Coaster, striving intersectional feminist, former expatriate, and history and language fiend. I explore politics and culture from an Asian American perspective, while seeking mutual awareness and empowerment with other communities of color.
Voting by mail!
I hope most folks have voted in their primaries already, but the COVID-19 era has made voter access in 2020 an even more critical issue. I thought it would be fun to document my experience filling out my mail-in ballot for the first time. I talk about how to apply for a mail-in ballot and how to fill it out.
You did vote, right? ;)
Have you filled out your 2020 Census form yet?
I ask because I’m a total Census nerd. But also, the decennial Census is critical to ensuring that hospitals and public schools are well-equipped and aren't overcrowded, that our roads and bridges are kept in safe condition, and that federal programs like Medicaid and SNAP ("food stamps") which helped 75 million and 38 million people in 2019, respectively. The Census also helps determine how many elected officials we have representing our districts.
I put together a video the day after Census Day (April 1st) to help walk folks through the process.
Filling out the 2020 Census is easy, takes less than 10 minutes, and ensures that all of those federal taxes you've been paying are going back to your communities for the next 10 years.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a citizenship question on the 2020 Census?
NOPE. The Supreme Court ultimately decided NOT to include a question about citizenship on the 2020 Census.
Is it safe to fill out the Census?
Yes. According to Title XIII of the U.S. Code states that the Census can ONLY use your information for statistical purposes. Census Bureau employee can face up to a quarter million dollar fine and/or face jail time for sharing confidential Census data. It’s that serious.
Will I get a paper form?
For the first time, the Census is digital. Once you receive your household ID number, you can go to my2020census.gov. If you are living in a place with limited internet connectivity, or are unresponsive, you will receive a paper form, but it’s best not to wait.
What do I do if my ethnicity is not listed under the race category?
You can always check “Other”, and write/type in your ethnicity. As a Taiwanese American, for example, I check “Other” and fill in “Taiwanese.” You can go through the same process under all other racial categories.
If I already filled out the form online and still get a paper form, should I fill out both?
No, you should only fill out the Census form once!