Get counted! Starting March 12, households will begin receiving their 2020 Census invitation. The 2020 Census is your chance to participate in the once-a-decade count. The results will determine how much funding local communities receive for key public services and how many seats each state gets in Congress. Census data informs federal funding for more than 100 programs, including school lunches, highway construction, and education. To learn more about the 2020 Census, watch the 2020 Census PSA Video. Below are important Census dates:
- March 12 - 20: Households will begin receiving official Census Bureau mail with detailed information on how to respond to the 2020 Census in one of three ways: online, by phone, or by mail.
- March 30 - April 1: The Census Bureau will count people who are experiencing homelessness over these three days, counting people in shelters, soup kitchens and mobile food vans, on the streets, and at non-sheltered, outdoor locations such as tent encampments.
- April 1: Census Day is observed nationwide. By this date, every home will receive an invitation to participate in the 2020 Census, and responses are based on where you live as of April 1, 2020. Once the invitation arrives, you will have three options for responding for your household: online, by phone, or by mail.
- April: Census takers will begin visiting college students who live on campus, people living in senior centers, and others who live among large groups of people. Census takers also begin conducting quality check interviews to help ensure an accurate count.
- May - July: Census takers will begin visiting homes that haven’t responded to the 2020 Census to help make sure everyone is counted.
Confidentiality
Your information is confidential. Federal law protects your responses, and your answers cannot be used against you by any government agency or court. The Census does not include a question about citizenship.
Additional assistance:
For additional assistance completing the 2020 Census online please refer to video guides available at: https://2020census.gov/languages.