On April 1, 2020, the US Census Bureau will perform a point-in-time count of every person living in the United States.
The Census, which is performed once every ten years, is a head count of every single person living in the United States. It is the primary way that funding decisions for social services– like public transportation, hospitals, and schools– are made by the government. It also informs the make-up of the US House of Representatives, whose 435 seats are distributed based on state population. An accurate census count ensures that Washington’s communities will be fairly represented in Congress. In short, Census data will be what is used over the next DECADE to pay for our communities’ parks, roads, and schools; fund nonprofits that provide emergency services; and ensure our voices are heard in Congress. You’ll want to make sure you’re counted too!
Frequent Questions
What do I have to do to complete the Census?
By now, you should have received an invitation in the mail from the Census Bureau, with a link and instructions on how to fill out the Census. If you haven’t received it by April 1, don’t worry– you can you still complete the Census!
There are three ways to complete the Census independently– online (12 languages + 59 language guides available), by phone (12 languages), or by mail (English and Spanish only). If you don’t have the chance to complete it independently, an official Census employee will follow up with you in person.
What does the Census look like and what does it ask?
The Census is a short, simple questionnaire. It asks basic questions about you and all the people who live in your household with you (partners, children, roommates, siblings, relatives, etc), such as what your race/ethnicities are, how old you are, and whether you rent or own the place you live in. It does NOT ask for your social security number, nor does it ask about anyone’s citizenship status. Here’s a link to explore the questions asked.
Since the Census asks for one response per HOUSEHOLD, we recommend that you designate one person in your household to be the person in charge of making sure that Census gets completed. Of course, everyone else in the household can (and should!) participate in ensuring their own answers are correct.
Do I have to respond on April 1? What if I forget?
Don’t worry! Counting all 300 million Americans is a massive undertaking, and the process will last through June (click here for an official timeline). Even though April 1 is recognized as national “Census Day,” you can take the Census before and after that day. Census employees will follow up by phone, mail, and in-person to non-responsive households.
How are my answers kept safe?
The Census Bureau is bound by law to keep all individual responses completely confidential. Responses will only be used to provide statistics, which then will help the government make funding and representation decisions based on the number of people in each community. For more information on privacy and confidentiality, click here.
If you have more questions, the Census Bureau’s official website is the best place to visit. And remember, make sure you’re counted and complete the Census!
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