by Mary Schreiber, LWVDV Census 2020 Co-Chair

June 2020 Update:

The deadline for self-reporting is now October 31, 2020. Census Field Office operations are scheduled to be at peak on June 1, 2020. Census takers will begin in-person follow-up on non-response household on August 11, 2020.

Currently, volunteers are doing phone banking to follow up with households that have not responded. This would be an opportunity to help since the library branches are closed. Please let me know if you are interested in phone banking. You can contact me at Maryschreiber77 [at] yahoo.com.

Census 2020 has been underway for two months, and 69.3% of our county has responded so far. Remember, the census is a social-distancing-approved activity and it has never been easier to respond in the comfort and safety of your own home. You can fill out the census online, by phone, or by mail. Starting Mid-May, the Census Bureau will begin sending out Enumerators to follow up with households who haven’t responded. When you’ve completed your census, post a picture on your social media with your receipt and tag #CountMeIn and #CoCoCounts.

In talking with some members of the community, Contra Costa Census 2020 outreach staff have heard your questions and concerns about exactly what the census asks and how your census data will be protected, especially given this is the first time the census will be conducted this way. The census asks basic questions, like age, name, race, and ethnicity, about each person living in your household. The 2020 census will not ask about immigration or citizenship, social security numbers, bank or credit card accounts, or political affiliation.

 Your census responses are confidential.

• Extremely strong laws protect the confidentiality of your census response.
• The Census Bureau is not allowed to share your personal information with anyone, including ICE, police, your landlord, or any other government agencies.
• The penalty for wrongful disclosure is a fine of up to $250,000 or imprisonment for up to 5 years, or both.
• The Census Bureau can only use your response to create general information about the population, like how many people live in your city, and statistics about age, gender, and race. The Census Bureau cannot share information about you as an individual.
• The Census Bureau has robust cybersecurity, incorporating industry best practices and federal security standards for encrypting data.

The law requires everyone to respond to the census completely and answer all questions truthfully. Your form will still be counted if you skip a question or two, if you provide your name and address. If you skip questions or don’t answer the census at all, the Census Bureau might follow up to ask for the missing information, either by phone or by sending a Census Bureau worker to your home.

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May 2020 Update

We know it's a stressful time with COVID-19! Remember you can respond to #Census2020 from the comfort and safety of your own home! Stay healthy (wash your hands!) and respond to the Census by the new date, October 31! The future of our healthcare industry depends on it!

Census 2020 has been underway for almost two months and so far, 63.1% of Contra Costa County residents and 54% of Californians have responded. If you haven’t responded to Census 2020 yet, remember: it’s easy (9 short questions), safe (social distancing approved), and important! You can fill out the census online at my2020census.gov, by phone (numbers available in 13 languages at this link), or by mail. Your response will help decide how many resources and how much civic representation our state and county will get for the next decade. You can respond to the census online, by phone, or by mail.

Still have questions about how to respond to Census 2020? Click here to check out answers to frequently asked questions.

In late summer, non-response follow-up for Census 2020 begins. From mid-August through the end of October, Census Takers or Census Enumerators (someone hired from our local community by the Census Bureau) will be going around to knock on doors and collect responses to Census 2020 from households that have not yet responded. 

Census 2020 Non-Response Follow Up

For those who haven’t responded to Census 2020, be prepared for a Census Taker to knock on your door. Remember your census data is confidential, protected, and will shape our civic representation for the next decade.

What will a census taker ask me?

The census taker will ONLY ask questions that appear on the census form and basic information about each resident.

The Census 2020 Enumerators will not ask for:

• Immigration or citizenship status
• Social security number
• Money or donations
• Anything on behalf of a political party
• Bank or credit card account numbers

How can I verify the identity of a Census Taker?

A Census Taker:

• Must present an ID Badge which contains: photograph of field representative, Department of Commerce watermark, and expiration date.
• Will provide you with supervisor contact information and/or the regional office phone number for verification, if asked.
• Will provide you with a letter from the Director of the Census Bureau on U.S. Census Bureau letterhead.
• May be carrying a laptop and/or bag with a Census Bureau logo. Still have questions about how to respond to Census 2020? Click here to see answers to FAQs

For more information about Census 2020 and Contra Costa County’s efforts visit cococensus.org