2020 Census Operational Adjustments Due to COVID-19

U.S. Department of Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross and U.S. Census Bureau Director Steven Dillingham Statement on 2020 Census Operational Adjustments Due to COVID-19

APRIL 13, 2020 — The 2020 Census is underway and more households across America are responding every day. Over 70 million households have responded to date, representing over 48% of all households in America. In light of the COVID-19 outbreak, the U.S. Census Bureau is adjusting 2020 Census operations in order to:

  • Protect the health and safety of the American public and Census Bureau employees.
  • Implement guidance from federal, state and local authorities.
  • Ensure a complete and accurate count of all communities.
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The Census Bureau temporarily suspended 2020 Census field data collection activities in March. Steps are already being taken to reactivate field offices beginning June 1, 2020, in preparation for the resumption of field data collection operations as quickly as possible following June 1. In-person activities, including all interaction with the public, enumeration, office work and processing activities, will incorporate the most current guidance to promote the health and safety of staff and the public. This will include recommended personal protective equipment (PPE) and social distancing practices.Once 2020 Census data collection is complete, the Census Bureau begins a lengthy, thorough and scientifically rigorous process to produce the apportionment counts, redistricting information and other statistical data products that help guide hundreds of billions of dollars in public and private sector spending per year.In order to ensure the completeness and accuracy of the 2020 Census, the Census Bureau is seeking statutory relief from Congress of 120 additional calendar days to deliver final apportionment counts.Under this plan, the Census Bureau would extend the window for field data collection and self-response to October 31, 2020, which will allow for apportionment counts to be delivered to the President by April 30, 2021, and redistricting data to be delivered to the states no later than July 31, 2021. ###
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census 2020 arrives in mailbox

Delivery of 2020 Census Paper Questionnaires Begin

Paper Forms Sent to Households to Remind Them to Respond

APRIL 8, 2020 — About 64 million households across the nation are receiving a paper questionnaire in the coming days as the U.S. Census Bureau continues to ensure responding to the census is easier than ever. Of the nation’s households, 46.2% have already responded to the 2020 Census. The remaining households will receive a paper questionnaire starting April 8.

“If you’re among the nearly half of all the nation’s households that have responded already, thank you!” said Census Bureau Director Dr. Steven Dillingham. “It has never been easier to respond on your own, whether online at 2020census.gov, over the phone, or by mail — all without having to meet a census taker. It’s something everyone can do while practicing social distancing at home to make a difference today, tomorrow and the next 10 years.”

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While nearly half of all households have responded online to the 2020 Census, some may prefer to receive a paper questionnaire. About 22% of the country received a paper form at the beginning of the census.

Some areas where census takers were originally going to hand-deliver forms in person will now receive a letter in the mail from the Census Bureau reminding them to participate, including many households in Puerto Rico. Even if households don’t receive a letter in the mail, the Census Bureau will drop off a census invitation and paper form as soon as it is safe to do so. Census takers will also follow up with all households that do not respond on their own.

Households receiving the paper questionnaire can still respond online or by phone, or they can return it by mail in the enclosed envelope. They can choose to respond online at 2020census.gov in English or 12 other languages, or receive assistance through language guides and videos available in 59 languages. When you respond online, use the Census ID from the letter or provide your address.

“Once you have responded, please encourage your family, friends and loved ones to complete the census too,” Dillingham said.

The public should respond for the number of people living at that address as of April 1. Responding now to the 2020 Census will minimize the need for a census taker to follow up and visit your home in person later this year. 

The U.S. Constitution mandates a census of the population every 10 years. Responding to the 2020 Census is easy, safe and important, and it’s key to shaping the future of communities. Census statistics are used to determine the number of seats each state holds in the U.S. House of Representatives and informs how hundreds of billions of dollars in public funds are allocated by state, local and federal lawmakers for public services and infrastructure like hospitals, emergency response, schools and bridges over the next 10 years.

For more information, visit 2020census.gov.   

The 2020 Census is open for self-response online at 2020census.gov, over the phone by calling the number provided in your invitation, or by paper through the mail.

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United States Census 2020 logo

Census Day Is Here – Make It Count!

Census Day is Here – Make It Count!

Response Rate Map Shows What Areas Are Responding the Fastest

APRIL 1, 2020 — Today is Census Day, the day that determines who is counted in the 2020 Census and where they are counted.

The U.S. Constitution mandates a census of the population every 10 years. Responding to the 2020 Census is easy, safe and important, and is key to shaping the future of communities. Census statistics are used to determine the number of seats each state holds in the U.S. House of Representatives and informs legislative district boundaries. They also inform how hundreds of billions of dollars in public funds are allocated by state, local and federal lawmakers to communities for public services and infrastructure like hospitals, emergency services, schools and bridges each year over the next 10 years.

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36.2 percent of households across the nation have responded to the 2020 Census since invitations began arriving in mailboxes March 12-20. Response rates are updated in the map daily seven days a week so that the public can see how well their community is doing compared to the nation and other areas.

The Census Bureau is strongly encouraging the public to respond to the 2020 Census online using a desktop computer, laptop, smartphone or tablet. You can respond online or by phone in English or 12 other languages. There are also 59 non-English language guides and videos (plus American Sign Language) available on 2020census.gov ensuring over 99% of U.S. households can respond online in their preferred language. It has never been easier to respond on your own — all without having to meet a census taker. This is really important with the current health and safety guidance being provided by national, state and local health authorities.

When you respond:

Respond for where you live as of April 1 (Census Day).
Include everyone who usually lives and sleeps in your home as of April 1, even if they are staying somewhere else temporarily. This includes relatives, friends, roommates and anyone else who lives and sleeps in your home most of the time — even children under age five and babies born on or before April 1, even if they are still in the hospital.
Count college students where they live while attending school. If they live on campus in university/college housing such as dorms or fraternity/sorority houses, they will be counted by school officials and do not need to respond. However, if they live off campus in private housing or apartments, they should respond to the census on their own using their off-campus address even if they are currently staying elsewhere.
Find additional answers about “Who to Count” at 2020census.gov.

You can use the Census ID from your invitation or provide your address when you respond. Then, please make sure your friends, family and social networks know about the importance of responding and encourage them to complete their census. Responding now will minimize the need for a census taker to follow up and visit your home later this year.

Some households — in areas less likely to respond online — have already received a paper questionnaire along with their first invitation. Households that have not responded online or by phone will receive a paper questionnaire April 8-16. 

For more information, visit 2020census.gov.   

Please note: Based on continuing assessments of guidance from federal, state and local health authorities, the Census Bureau is suspending 2020 Census field operations for two additional weeks to April 15, 2020. The Census Bureau is taking this step to help protect the health and safety of the American public, Census Bureau employees, and everyone who will go through the hiring process for temporary census taker positions. The Census Bureau continues to evaluate all 2020 Census field operations, and will communicate any further updates as soon as possible.

The 2020 Census is open for self-response online at 2020Census.gov, over the phone by calling the number provided in your invitation, and by paper through the mail.

Resources for the Media

We’re here to help you get the most out of our tipsheets, press releases, press kits, and media advisories. If you have a question, contact the Public Information Office at 301-763-3030 or pio@census.gov.

TIP SHEET: CB20-CN.36 

United States Census 2020 logo
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Make Sure You’re Counted in the 2020 Census

As spring quickly approaches, you will start to hear more about the 2020 Census. The Census only happens once a decade and determines how billions of dollars are allocated for water treatment, fire stations, health services, and countless other essential programs that impact our daily lives including programs such as Medicaid, affordable housing, and food stamps.

By participating in the 2020 Census you will be doing your part to ensure that we can address the most pressing issues facing our community and California. So make sure your voice is heard by visiting 2020Census.gov. Your response can help determine the future for the next ten years. Remember to list everyone residing in your home, including your kids.  

I want to make clear that there will be NO citizenship question. Your information will be confidential and cannot be used against you by government agencies like ICE. Census Bureau employees are sworn to protect your privacy, and it is illegal for them to disclose your private information. 

Watch my 2020 Census Video Announcement below:

We ALL count, and we all get to shape the future by participating in the 2020 Census.

With Best Regards,

Jared Huffman
Member of Congress
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2020 Census Info Coming in Mail Soon

San Rafael, CA – Mailboxes across the country soon will receive official notifications about the start of the 2020 U.S. Census, and Marin County is looking to hire a few more $25-per-hour temporary workers to assure an accurate local count. 

Census takers must be a U.S. citizen, at least 18 years old, and have a valid Social Security number. A list of job qualifications is online, and the deadline to apply is March 15.

“We’re getting there, but we haven’t quite hit that hiring goal,” said Kristin Drumm, Senior Planner with the Marin County Community Development Agency (CDA).  

An invitation to participate will arrive by mail between March 12 and March 20 including easy-to-follow instructions on how to respond to the census. It’s expected that 95 percent of U.S. residents will receive the invitation by mail.

This census is being labeled as the “first digital census” whereby households will have the option of responding online, by mail, or by phone. The invitations will remind respondents to include everyone living in the household, whether they are related or not.

An accurate resident count is critical because much of the funding triggered by the gathered data fuels programs that help lower-income and underrepresented populations. For instance, the census results determine how many dollars go to California for school lunches, Medicaid, CalFresh food assistance, the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) and many other programs. Undercounting on the census can lead to the loss of a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives and federal funding shortfalls.

By its own estimates, the federal government expects less than 1 percent of households will be counted in person by a census official, most of those being residents living in remote areas.

What’s going on locally with the census? In 2019, MarinCensus2020.org was created and a Complete Count Committee was launched to plan and execute census education and outreach activities with encouraging messages in multiple languages that explain the impact of participation and assure confidentiality. The website and committee were collaborations by the County CDA, the City of San Rafael, the City of Novato, Canal Alliance and Community Action Marin. In addition, Marin CDA entered into partnerships with several community-based organizations to support education and outreach activities in the designated historically undercounted communities.

According to data provided by the California Census Office, Marin residents least likely to fill out a census form or considered “hard to count” are those living in West Marin, Marin City, San Rafael’s Canal neighborhood and Lincoln Avenue, Terra Linda, and pockets of downtown Novato. Historically undercounted populations include racial and ethnic minorities, people who speak languages other than English, those with low internet proficiency or access to technology, children 5 and under, adults over the age of 65, young people who move frequently or have plans to move soon, and rural residents.

“If our census-savvy residents know people who fall into those hard-to-count categories, we could use help in putting them at ease and encouraging them to participate,” Drumm said. “Our top focus is to reduce the number of people who are considered at risk for not taking part in the count.”

Local organizers remain concerned about the five identified barriers that might prevent people from participating in the count: 

  • concerns about data privacy and confidentiality;
  • the fear of repercussions;
  • distrust in all levels of government;
  • the feeling that it doesn’t matter to be counted; and
  • the belief that filling out the census form might not benefit the participant’s family or community.

There is more information on the national 2020 Census Jobs webpage about applying, and the Census Bureau’s social media toolkit helps residents promote census jobs in the community. Most questions about the local census efforts are answered on MarinCensus2020.org and www.census.gov.

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census 2020 arrives in mailbox

Less Than One Month Until U.S. Households Receive 2020 Census Invitations

Between March 12 and March 20, invitations to participate in the 2020 Census will start arriving in households across the country.

“The Census Bureau is ready for the nation to respond next month,” said Census Bureau Director Dr. Steven Dillingham. “Millions of Americans are applying for 2020 Census jobs, more than 270,000 local and national organizations are engaged, and in less than 30 days the majority of U.S. households will receive an invitation to respond to help ensure that every person in the U.S. is counted.”

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“The 2020 Census is on mission, on schedule, and on budget to promote an accurate count,” Dillingham continued. “Response is important because statistics from the census are used in distributing hundreds of billions in funding for school lunches, hospitals, roads and much more. The invitations will remind respondents to include everyone living in the household, whether they are related or not. This includes young children. Your response will impact communities for the next decade.”

“The Census Bureau has successfully tested its data collection systems, has built backup systems to support resilient operations, and is ready to receive responses from all around the country,” added Dillingham.

This invitation will include instructions on how to respond to the 2020 Census online or by phone. By April 1, most households will have received an invitation delivered either by mail or by a census taker. In areas of the country that are less likely to respond online, a paper questionnaire will be included in the initial mailing to households. Reminder mailings will be sent to households that do not respond, and in the fourth mailing every household that has not yet responded will receive a paper questionnaire. Continue Reading…..

Mark Your Calendar: Important 2020 Census Dates

  • March 12-20: Initial invitations to respond online and by phone will be delivered by the U.S. Postal Service. Areas that are less likely to respond online will receive a paper questionnaire along with the invitation to respond online or over the phone.
  • March 16-24: Reminder letters will be delivered.
  • March 26-April 3: Reminder postcards will be delivered to households that have not responded.
  • April 8-16: Reminder letters and paper questionnaires will be delivered to remaining households that have not responded.
  • April 20-27: Final reminder postcards will be delivered to households that have not yet responded before census takers follow up in person.
  • May 13-July 31: If a household does not respond to any of the invitations, a census taker will follow up in person.
Important Dates

Contact the Public Information Office for media inquiries or interviews.

More 2020 Census Resources

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Census Bureau Releases 2020 Census Response Rate Challenge Toolkit

The U.S. Census Bureau has released a downloadable toolkit geared toward helping local elected officials and community leaders plan a Response Rate Challenge for the 2020 Census. The new toolkit encourages leaders in every town, city and state to challenge their communities to improve upon their 2010 Census response rates in the upcoming national census.

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Highlights of the toolkit include:
  • Ideas and resources for creating a challenge, a 2020 Census timeline, example challenges, promotional materials and templates and general information about the 2020 Census.
  • Information on how communities can use an interactive Self-Response Rate Map on 2020census.gov to look up their 2010 Census response rates, set a goal for their challenge and monitor their progress as people begin responding in mid- to late March.
  • Inspiration for communities to challenge each other in a friendly competition (i.e., city vs. city or state vs. state) and how to work with local businesses, partners and media to promote the challenge and motivate people to respond on their own as soon as they can.

The 2020 Census Response Rate Challenge will be a key element to connecting the importance of the 2020 Census to individual communities. The challenge will give local leaders an opportunity to educate people about how they can shape their future.

Help us spread the word about the 2020 Census

The 2020 Census is more than a population count. It’s an opportunity to shape the future of your community. Through your social media channels, your voice can make a difference. Share this on social media or forward it to a friend.

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About the 2020 Census

The U.S. Constitution mandates a census of the population every 10 years. The 2020 Census will count everyone who lives in the U.S. as of April 1, 2020. Census statistics help determine the number of seats each state holds in the U.S. House of Representatives and how billions of dollars in federal funds will be allocated by state, local, and federal lawmakers every year for the next 10 years. Beginning in mid-March, households can respond to the census online or by phone. Additionally, about one-quarter of households will receive a follow-up paper questionnaire at that time. Beginning in mid-April, households that have not responded will receive a paper questionnaire.

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News Release: Workshop, Partnerships Roll Out for 2020 Census

News Release: Workshop, Partnerships Roll Out for 2020 Census

For Immediate Release

January 13, 2020A

San Rafael, CA – Marin County needs more $25-per-hour temporary workersto assure an accurate 2020 U.S. Census[External] this spring.“Before we start counting our local residents, we need to make sure we have enough people to do the job accurately, swiftly, and fairly,” said Kristin Drumm, Senior Planner with the Marin County Community Development Agency (CDA). “Municipalities throughout the country take part in this campaign and supply their own census workforce. It is a great way to make a difference in your community.” 

Upcoming census worker jobs workshops are listed on the Marin Census 2020 website jobs page. The next one is 9:30-11 a.m. Tuesday, January 21, at the YMCA San Rafael office, 30 North San Pedro Road, in San Rafael. The workshops are designed to provide information about the census process and walk the participants through the online application. Census takers must be a U.S. citizen, at least 18 years old, and have a valid Social Security number. A list of job qualifications is online[External link].

In 2019, MarinCensus2020.org and a Complete Count Committee were launched to create encouraging messages in multiple languages that explain the importance of the census and assure confidentiality. The website and committee were collaborations by the County CDA, the City of San Rafael, the City of Novato, and Canal Alliance. In addition, Marin CDA entered partnerships with several community-based organizations to support education and outreach activities in the designated hard-to-count communities. According to data provided by the California Census Office, Marin residents least likely to fill out a census form or considered “hard to count” are those living in West Marin, Marin City, San Rafael’s Canal neighborhood and Lincoln Avenue, Terra Linda, and pockets of downtown Novato.

This census is being labeled as the “first digital census” whereby households will have the option of responding online, by mail, or by phone. Nearly every household will receive an invitation to participate in the census from either a postal worker or a census worker, but it’s expected that 95 percent of residents will receive an invitation by mail beginning mid-March 2020.

By its own estimates, the federal government expects less than 1 percent of households will be counted in person by a census official, most of those being residents living in remote areas.

Historically undercounted populations include racial and ethnic minorities, people who speak languages other than English, those with low internet proficiency, children 5 and under, adults over the age of 65, young people who move frequently or have plans to move soon, and rural residents, all people at risk of low response. Others might be willing but have limited access to technology and, as a result, are considered difficult to reach by an online survey.

Local plans for administering the census starting mid-March are moving forward. However, local organizers remain concerned about the five barriers identified that might prevent people from participating in the count: 

  • concerns about data privacy and confidentiality; 
  • the fear of repercussions; 
  • distrust in all levels of government; 
  • the feeling that it doesn’t matter to be counted; and 
  • the belief that filling out the census form might not benefit the participant.

Much of the funding triggered by census results ends up as fuel for programs that help lower-income and underrepresented populations. For instance, the census results determine choices about which roads are fixed, where schools are built, who qualifies for school lunches and Medicaid, where businesses can be opened, which local programs are eligible for grants, and what medical services are offered. Undercounting on the census can lead to the loss of a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives and federal funding shortfalls.

There is more information on the national 2020 Census Jobs webpage[External link] about applying, and the Census Bureau’s social media toolkit[External link] helps residents promote census jobs in the community. Most questions about the local census efforts are answered on MarinCensus2020.org and www.census.gov[External link].

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2020 Census Jobs Fit Your Schedule!

Temporary positions for the 2020 Census feature flexible hours—a perfect fit if you are looking to earn a little extra money, even if you already have other commitments.

Find Pay Rates in Your Area

Jobs for the 2020 Census are located throughout the United States and Puerto Rico and include both field and office positions. Pay rates can vary by position and location.  Select your state (or Puerto Rico) and county (or municipio) to find the pay rates in your area.

SEE PAY RATES

Here’s How To Apply for a 2020 Job

So, you’re ready to work on the 2020 Census? The first step is to complete the online job application. This will include some assessment questions about your education, work, and other experience.

GET STARTED

How You Can Get Involved

  • Promote 2020 Census content on your social media channels, through your email lists, and on your website. Three new links on the census.gov homepage give visitors quick access to key 2020 Census information. 
  • Check out the 2020 Census Recruitment Toolkit. This easy to use toolkit provides resources to help raise awareness of 2020 Census job opportunities.
  • Help us spread the word about the 2020 Census! Share this on social media or forward it to a friend.
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Balancing Privacy and Accuracy

The 2020 Census data products will be the first ever protected using a modernized privacy protection system – a Disclosure Avoidance System – that allows the Census Bureau to safeguard respondent information while producing relevant, high-quality data.   

To better understand the disclosure avoidance system for the 2020 Census and its impact on data quality and protection, the Census Bureau recently released demonstration data products. This set of data products demonstrate the current computational capabilities of the 2020 Disclosure Avoidance System.

We encourage data users and data scientists to examine these products and provide feedback as the Census Bureau continues to develop and fine-tune the disclosure avoidance system. Please send feedback to dcmd.2010.demonstration.data.products@census.gov.

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2020 Census Paid Media Strategy

In January, paid advertising for the 2020 Census will begin running across multiple platforms, including print and digital outlets, television and radio, billboards, and at transit stations, grocery stores and movie theaters throughout the United States and Puerto Rico—reaching 99 percent of all households, particularly in multicultural and hard-to-count populations.

The Census Bureau is conducting a comprehensive integrated communications campaign to maximize self-response and encourage participation in the 2020 Census, which will shape how federal funding is distributed throughout the United States. One cornerstone of the operation is a paid advertising campaign customized to reach a wide range of audiences. 

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New 2020 Census Outreach Materials

We continue to post new materials to support your 2020 Census outreach in several languages. See some of the newest resources available below.

Help us spread the word about the 2020 Census. Share this on social media or forward it to a friend.

About Census Partnerships

From corporations to policymakers, foundations and non-profits to software developers, the U.S. Census Bureau partners across sectors and industries to help America work better through data. Together we harness the power of our data, support each other’s missions, and co-create solutions to increase data use and participation in Census Bureau surveys and programs, including the upcoming 2020 Census. Connect with the Census Partnerships Team atcensus.partners@census.gov to learn more.

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