Dear neighbors,
The 2020 Census is underway and households across America are responding every day. In light of the COVID-19 outbreak, the U.S. Census Bureau has adjusted 2020 Census operations in order to:
- Protect the health and safety of Census Bureau employees and the American public.
- Implement guidance from federal, state, and local health authorities.
- Ensure a complete and accurate count of all communities.
Although the Census Bureau extended the timing of their operations, the basic requirements haven’t changed. All citizens are still required to respond to the Census. By now, you should have received an invitation to respond. The sooner you respond, the sooner the reminders will stop!
Here are answers to some 2020 Census Frequently Asked Questions:
Do we count college students that have returned home?
- Per the Census Bureau’s residence criteria, in most cases students living away from home at school should be counted at school, even if they are temporarily elsewhere due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
- In general, students in colleges and universities temporarily closed due to the COVID-19 virus will still be counted as part of this process. Even if they are home on census day, April 1, they should be counted according to the residence criteria which states they should be counted where they live and sleep most of the time. The Census Bureau is asking schools to contact their students and remind them to respond.
- College students living in on-campus housing are counted through their university as part of our Group Quarters Operation, which counts all students living in university owned housing. In addition to college dormitories, the Group Quarters Operation also includes places like nursing homes, group homes, halfway houses and prisons.
- During the Census Bureau’s recent 2020 Census Group Quarters Advance Contact operation they contacted college/university student housing administrators to get their input on the enumeration methods that will allow students to participate in the 2020 Census.
What does the Invitation to Respond envelope look like?
See visuals of our Census 2020 mailings here: https://www.census.gov/newsroom/press-kits/2020/2020-census-mailings.html
Can I answer the questionnaire without the code in the Invitation to Respond?
Yes! Visit my2020census.gov to complete the questionnaire with or without a code.
I like the paper questionnaire. Will I need to pay to mail it back?
No, it has postage on the return envelope and is ready to mail.
What if more than 10 people are in my household?
It is best to answer online or by phone for a larger household as you may include up to 99 people in your response.
Where can I find language assistance for the census?
See print guides in 59 languages here: https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census/2020-census/planning-management/language-resources/language-guides.html
When will I be able to see how well my community is responding?
As of March 20th you will be able to Census Self-Response Rates here: https://2020census.gov/en/response-rates.html
What are the Census phone numbers?
The Census Bureau is offering live, non-English help by phone between 7 a.m. – 2 a.m. ET. Below are phone numbers for help in specified languages:
- English: 844-330-2020
- Spanish: 844-468-2020
- Chinese (Mandarin): 844-391-2020
- Chinese (Cantonese): 844-398-2020
- Vietnamese: 844-461-2020
- Korean: 844-392-2020
- Russian: 844-417-2020
- Arabic: 844-416-2020
- Tagalog: 844-478-2020
- Polish: 844-479-2020
- French: 844-494-2020
- Haitian Creole: 844-477-2020
- Portuguese: 844-474-2020
- Japanese: 844-460-2020
- English (Puerto Rico residents): 844-418-2020
- Spanish (Puerto Rico residents): 844-426-2020
- Telephone Display Device (TDD): 844-467-2020 will also be available for people who have hearing impairments.