Get Counted! Fill out the Census by September 30.
Every 10 years, the U.S. government sends a brief survey to every household in the country called the census, the goal of which is to ensure an accurate (as possible) count of the national population. The census opened this year in March 2020 and would have closed in July. However, because of COVID-19, the U.S. Census Bureau extended the deadline to submit the survey through September 30. As of now, fewer than 65% of households nationwide have responded, with only slightly higher rates across California. Not having access to complete information about all of our country’s inhabitants could have long-term consequences: communities might not get appropriate proportional representation in the House of Representatives and the budget might not be fairly distributed to vital services.
All of us need to do our part to get counted and make sure we have a voice in government. It’s one of the easiest ways — and one of the most important ways! — you can support democracy right now. Filling out the census takes about 10 minutes and can make all the difference in whether or not your community receives fair representation in Congress, fair spending for critical services (like building new roads, supporting education, providing health insurance, and more), and improved economic opportunities.
Who Should Respond to the Census
Every household should submit a census form, regardless of citizenship status — the purpose of the census is to count every person living in the United States, not just citizens. There is no citizenship question on the form. One member of each household should respond on behalf of all residing there. The person responding should be:
Living in the household themselves
At least 15 years old
Able to provide general information about others in the household
What You Will Need to Answer on the Census
The census will ask the following questions about each person in your household:
Name
Sex
Age and date of birth
Hispanic origin
Race
The census will also ask the following general questions:
How many people were living or staying in your home as of April 1, 2020
Whether there were additional people staying in your home as of April 1, 2020 who weren’t included the in question above
Whether your home is owned or rented by someone in the household
Your telephone number
What You Will Not Need to Answer on the Census
The census will not ask the following questions:
Citizenship status
Social security number
Bank account information
Political party affiliation
Religion
How to Respond
You can respond to the census online, by telephone, or by mail. You must respond by September 30, 2020.
Online: You should have received a 12 digit Census ID in the mail. If you don’t have the code, you can still complete the online form.
Telephone: Call 1-844-330-2020 to speak with a Census Bureau assistance representative and have them fill out your survey responses. Phones are open from 7:00 am to 1:00 am Eastern Standard Time.
Mail: All households should have received a paper census form in the mail with a return envelope. Simply fill out the form and drop it in the mail (you will not need to pay for postage).
Resources
For more information and answers to frequently asked questions, please visit the following websites:
NALEO (resources for the Latino community)
Count Us in 2020 (resources for Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islanders)
Natives Count (resources for Native Americans)