THE CENSUS: Your Invitation to Respond. If you haven’t responded yet, it is not too late!
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Census Bureau has extended deadlines to keep its workers and the public safe. The new deadline for self-response is August 14. But responding sooner online, by phone, or by mail will save the cost and effort of Census takers to ensure a complete count.
Under the revised plan, nonresponse follow-up is currently scheduled for May 28-August 14. During that period, Census takers will knock on doors and interview households in person but that have not responded online, by phone, or by mail.
Most households received their invitation to respond to the 2020 Census between March 12 – 20. The official Census Bureau mailings included detailed information and a Census ID for completing the Census online. In addition to an invitation to respond, some households also received a paper questionnaire (sometimes known as the census form).
You should be counted where you are living and sleeping most of the time as of April 1, 2020. If you are responding for your home, count everyone who lives and sleeps there most of the time 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.
However, if someone is staying with you temporarily on April 1 due to the COVID-19 situation, they should be counted where they usually live. This includes college students, who should still be counted at school, even if they are home early because of the COVID-19 situation. If they live in student housing, the college will count them. If they live off campus, they should respond for the off-campus address and include any roommates or other people living there.
If someone is staying with you on April 1 who doesn’t have a usual home elsewhere, please include them in your response.
For help responding, go to https://2020census.gov/en/help.html. or call 844-330-2020. At the website, there are phone numbers for those who speak 16 languages. Phone lines are open every day from 7 am to 2 am Eastern Time.
