To ensure everyone is counted, census takers will begin visiting households that haven’t responded yet to the 2020 Census on July 16 to collect their responses in person. The operation will begin in a few communities and expand throughout the U.S. on August 11. These efforts are expected to wrap up no later than Oct. 31.
Health and Safety
Census takers will follow public health guidelines when they visit.
Census takers are trained to:
- Wear a mask.
- Conduct the interview outside a home in an open, well-ventilated space, when possible.
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 they have a valid ID badge. The badge should include their photograph, a U.S. Department of Commerce watermark, and an expiration date.
- If you still have questions about their identity, you can call 844-330-2020 to speak with a 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.
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. It could even be infected with malware.
A key way to identify scam websites is to look at the website address. All valid Census Bureau websites will always have ".gov" at the end. 2020census.gov provides key information about the 2020 Census and how to respond. My2020census.gov is the direct website address you can use to respond to the 2020 Census online.
Further, during the 2020 Census, the Census Bureau will never ask for:
- Your Social Security number.
- Your bank account or credit card numbers.
- Anything on behalf of a political party.
- Money or donations.
Census Bureau Communications
The Census Bureau will not send unsolicited emails to request your participation in the 2020 Census. However, the Census Bureau may contact you via email to request your participation in other ongoing surveys:
Importance of the Data
Remember, it is important for everyone to be counted because the 2020 Census will determine congressional representation, inform hundreds of billions in federal funding every year, and provide data that will impact communities for the next decade.
The results are used to adjust or redraw electoral districts where populations have increased or decreased. Data collected in the 2020 Census will impact how hundreds of billions of dollars in federal funding are allocated to communities across the country for hospitals, fire departments, school lunch programs, and other critical programs and services. The 2020 Census will be valuable to businesses, too, because the results will provide a rich set of data on the communities they serve, including population trends and growth projections. Business owners rely on census results to make decisions, such as where to open new stores, restaurants, factories, or offices, where to expand operations, where to recruit employees, and which products and services to offer.
