2020 U.S. Census begins March 12
March 12, 2020
Every ten years, the United States conducts a count of every person living in the United States as of April 1. This includes citizens and non-citizens. The U.S. Census Bureau is the federal agency that conducts the count. They have worked hard to make this decade’s census even easier, with options to respond online, by mail, and over the phone, all without ever having to meet a census taker. These options are all the more helpful with the increasing concern over coronavirus exposure.
The census data is used to make decisions about trillions in federal tax dollars and also to apportion government representation and for future planning purposes. It is important for each town and county to get an accurate count of the people living in their areas so they get fairly represented for federal programs over the next ten years.
Historically, the census has been conducted with a surveyor coming to your door. In 2010, the U.S. Census Bureau initiated a program to have a large number of surveys done by mail. In 2020, the U.S. Census Bureau hopes the vast majority of people will take the survey online. From March 12-20, households will receive the first of several invitations to participate in the 2020 Census. They hope people will respond online as soon as they receive their invitations. Instructions are provided on how to go online, including the web address for the online questionnaire in English as well as where to respond online in 12 additional languages – ensuring over 99% of U.S. households can respond online in their preferred language.
The invitation will also include phone numbers for English and the 12 additional languages – ensuring over 99% of U.S. households can respond to the census over the phone in their preferred language. Telephone assistance is available seven days a week from 7 a.m. to 2 a.m. EDT for those who prefer to respond by phone.
Some households—in areas less likely to respond online—will receive a paper questionnaire in the first mailing; all households that have not responded online or by phone will receive a paper questionnaire between April 8 and April 16. The paper questionnaire includes a prepaid postage envelope to return it by mail.
Census takers plan to conduct the Nonresponse Followup operation in a handful of communities beginning as early as April 9, and across the country on May 13. Households can still respond on their own during this phase (online and phone response is available through July 31).
The U.S. Census Bureau designed the 2020 operations so they could offer multiple ways to respond. For instance, "group quarters," the operation which counts people in nursing homes, college dorms, prisons and other institutional living facilities, includes a variety of ways to respond, such as via eResponse, paper listing or self-enumeration by the facility. The same is true for "service-based enumeration" which counts people experiencing homelessness at the site where they receive services. The site administrators have multiple options for response.
The U.S. Census Bureau is carefully monitoring the coronavirus (COVID-19) situation and say they will follow the guidance of federal, state and local health authorities. They have established the Census Bureau COVID-19 Internal Task Force to continuously monitor the situation and update their Pandemic Addendum to the Census Bureau Continuity of Operations (COOP) Plan.
They issued a media release on March 11 staying their preparation and contingency planning centers on two key principles: The health and safety of their staff and the public is of the utmost consideration and importance. They must fulfill their constitutional obligation to deliver the 2020 Census counts to the President of the United States on schedule. They must adhere to their core task of counting everyone once, only once, and in the right place. "The key message right now for anyone with questions about how COVID-19 will affect the 2020 Census: It has never been easier to respond on your own, whether online, over the phone or by mail—all without having to meet a census taker."
Beginning March 12th, watch for a postcard in the mail with a link to the online survey. If you don’t have a standard street address or the Census Bureau couldn’t verify the street information in time, you’ll receive both a packet with the paper survey that can be mailed back, and an invitation to complete the survey online. You’re able to respond either way. If you have questions or concerns, or want more information about the 2020 Census, go the U.S. Census Bureau website: http://www.census.gov
Important dates for the 2020 U.S. Census:
March 12-20:
Households will begin receiving invitations from the Census Bureau to complete the online questionnaire. Households are also able to respond to the survey by phone or by mail.
April 1:
The Census Bureau's questionnaire will ask households where they were living on April 1. By now, every home should have received an invitation to participate in the census.
May-July:
Enumerators, or people paid by the Census Bureau to go door to door conducting the 2020 survey, will begin visiting households in person that have not yet responded to the survey.
July 31:
Last day for households to self-respond online, by phone or by mail.
December:
Apportionment counts determined by the population data are delivered to the President and Congress, as required by law.
March 2021:
Population data is delivered to the states for tax funding redistricting purposes.
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