Census 2020

The 2020 Census will ask for the following information:

• Number of people at your address
• Whether you’re an owner or a renter
• If there are any additional people living or staying there
• Name, sex, race, age and date of birth
• Hispanic, Latino or Spanish origin
• Phone number
• Whether a person lives or stays somewhere else
• Relationship

Click here to view a flyer with more information about these questions.

Your responses to the 2020 Census are safe, secure, and protected by federal law. Your answers can only be used to produce statistics—they cannot be used against you in any way. By law, all responses to U.S. Census Bureau household and business surveys are kept completely confidential.

Click here to learn more about confidentiality.

By April 1, 2020, every home will receive an invitation to participate in the 2020 Census. You will have three options for responding: online, by phone or by mail. The 2020 Census marks the first time you will be invited to respond online—even on your mobile device. Visit www.2020census.gov for more information about responding online.

Beginning in mid-March 2020, you can respond to the census online, by phone, or by mail. Choose the option that is most comfortable for you. From May – July 2020, census takers will visit households that have not yet responded.

Being responsible stewards of your data is not only required by law, it is embedded in Census Bureau culture. Strict policies and statistical safeguards help protect the confidentiality of your information.

From the beginning of the data collection process, the Census Bureau follows industry best practices and federal requirements to protect your data. The security of Census Bureau systems is a top priority, and their IT infrastructure is designed to defend against and contain cyberthreats. The Bureau continually refines their approach to identifying, preventing, detecting, and responding to these threats.

Avoiding Scams Online
Phishing is a criminal act in which someone tries to get your information by pretending to be an entity that you trust. Phishing emails often direct you to a website that looks real but is fake—and may be infected with malware.

It is important to know that the Census Bureau will not send unsolicited emails to request your participation in the 2020 Census. Further, during the 2020 Census, the Census Bureau will never ask for:

• Your Social Security number.
• Your bank account or credit card numbers.
• Money or donations.

Source: www.2020census.gov

Absolutely! The official census website, www.2020census.gov, is a 508-compliant website accessible to people with blindness or low vision, deafness or hearing loss, learning disabilities, cognitive limitations, limited movement, photosensitivity, and various combinations of these. From May – July 2020, census takers will visit households that have not yet responded. A census taker can assist if you need help completing your form.

In addition, the following resources are also available:

• The online questionnaire is accessible to people with a wide range of disabilities.
• If you have blindness or low vision, you can print a questionnaire guide in braille or large print.
• If you have deafness or a hearing loss, you may respond to the census using telephone devices for hearing impaired. You can access video guides to the questionnaire in American Sign Language. You can also view online videos and webcasts with closed or open captioning.
• Anyone needing additional assistance completing their form may request a visit from a census taker.

Click here to view the census accessibility flyer.

Snowbirds, or people who live or stay at two or more residences, should be counted at the residence where they live and sleep most of the time. If they cannot determine a place where they live most of the time, they are counted where they are staying on Census Day, April 1, 2020.

College students living away from their parents' or guardians' home while attending college in the United States should be counted at the residence where they live and sleep most of the time, regardless of whether that’s student dorms or off campus.

Source: FederalRegister.gov

Unfortunately, we live in a time when some individuals may try to use the census as a cover for fraudulent activity. Here are some tips on how to avoid frauds and scams.

Avoiding Scams Online
Phishing is a criminal act in which someone tries to get your information by pretending to be an entity that you trust. Phishing emails often direct you to a website that looks real but is fake—and may be infected with malware.

It is important to know that the Census Bureau will not send unsolicited emails to request your participation in the 2020 Census. Further, during the 2020 Census, the Census Bureau will never ask for:

• Your Social Security number.
• Your bank account or credit card numbers.
• Money or donations.

In addition, the Census Bureau will not contact you on behalf of a political party.

Staying Safe at Home
If someone visits your home to collect a response for the 2020 Census, you can do the following to verify their identity:

• First, check to make sure that they have a valid ID badge, with their photograph, a U.S. Department of Commerce watermark, and an expiration date.
• If you still have questions about their identity, you can call 800-923-8282 to speak with a local Census Bureau representative.

Reporting Suspected Fraud
If you suspect fraud, call 800-923-8282 to speak with a local Census Bureau representative. If it is determined that the visitor who came to your door does not work for the Census Bureau, contact your local police department.