Be counted! Participate in the 2020 Census
The 2020 Census is here. 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.
From March 12-20, households will receive the first of several invitations to participate in the 2020 Census.
The Census Bureau is encouraging everyone to respond online as soon as you receive your invitation with the provided instructions to go online. Instructions include 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 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 Census Bureau will closely follow guidance from public health authorities when conducting this operation, as we do when conducting all field operations.
If it needs to delay or discontinue nonresponse follow-up visits in a particular community, the bureau will adapt our operation to ensure we get a complete and accurate count.
Currently, the bureau is conducting fieldwork for some of our non-decennial surveys by phone in areas where we are seeing an outbreak.
Similarly, partnership specialists are working with local partners and conducting meetings that may have been in person by phone and teleconference.
