Census forms began arriving in mailboxes around the country Monday.
Once every 10 years, the government gets a head count to figure out how to evenly distribute everything from school funding to congressional seats.
This time around, the census form is 10 questions long, the shortest ever.
If you fill out the form, the government won't have to send a census worker to your house to follow up, which costs them a staggering $1.5 billion.
A lack of participation could cost states in the South and West the most.
The Census Bureau is most concerned about young adults and immigrants who are reclutant to file paperwork because of fears of the government's crackdown on illegal immigration.
They're trying to raise awareness among those groups with an advertising campaign.
Once the census is finished, expect fireworks at the state level.
Population changes affect the number of elected representatives each state gets and where those representatives come from.
Next year, state lawmakers will redraw congressional maps.
Texas could gain as many as four congressional seats, and both parties will want to put their candidates in those new seats.
