The 2020 Census is happening now! Participation in the Census is required by law. Mandated by the U.S. Constitution in Article 1, Section 2, the United States has counted its population every ten years since 1790.
The results of the 2020 Census determine the number of seats each state will have in the U.S. House of Representatives, and they are used to draw congressional and state legislative districts.
The results of the Census will help the government make decisions about allocating hundreds of billions of dollars in federal funding to communities across the country—for hospitals, fire departments, school lunch programs, and other critical programs and services. Federal funds are allocated to more than 100 programs, including Medicaid, Head Start, block grants for community mental health services, and SNAP.
Census numbers will be valuable to businesses, as the results will provide data on the communities they serve, including population trends and growth projections. Business owners rely on census results to make decisions such as where to open new stores, factories, or offices, where to expand, where to recruit employees, and which products and services to offer.
Last spring you should have been sent a postcard asking you to log onto the Census website, www.2020Census.gov and answer specific questions. They want to know your name, age or date of birth, race, phone number (in case they have questions about an answer), type of residence. They do NOT ask if you are a citizen. The big question is how many live in your home on April 1. The Census Bureau is bound by federal law to protect your information, and your data is used only for statistical purposes.
You should be counted where you were living and sleeping most of the time as of April 1, 2020. If you are responding for your home, count everyone who was living and sleeping there as of April 1, 2020. This includes young children, foster children, roommates, and any family members or friends who are living with you, even temporarily.
You can take the census online using your computer, phone, or tablet by going to www.my2020census.gov. You can use a computer at the library if you don’t have one at home. You can also respond by phone by calling 844-330-2020. If you received a paper questionnaire, you can respond by mail. You can request another language. Your personal information is kept confidential.
In 2010, 99.6% of Americans responded to the census. The response so far this year is only 65%, 70% in Nebraska. The low response rate this year is a major concern for everyone. In every census there is criticism that children, people who rent, who are homeless, or who are minorities are undercounted – groups who most need government assistance.
Census takers will come to your door if you haven’t responded yet. They will follow local public health guidelines when they visit your home. They have a valid ID badge with their photograph, a U.S. Department of Commerce watermark, and an expiration date. Census takers work between 9am and 9pm, including weekends. If no one is home when the census taker visits, the census taker will leave a notice of their visit with information about how to respond online, by phone or by mail. The Census must be completed by September 30.
The 2020 Census will provide a snapshot of our nation—who we are, where we live, and so much more. If you haven’t completed the Census yet, please do so today.