Once a decade, the US does a census and everyone living in the 50 states, District of Columbia, and five U.S. territories is required by law to be counted.

Why is it important for me to participate?

Participation helps ensure your community receives services, support and representation.

Aside from the fact that it is required by law, the census provides critical data that lawmakers, business owners, and many others use to provide daily services, products, and support for you and your community. Every year, billions of dollars in federal funding go to hospitals, fire departments, schools, roads, and other resources based on census data. The results of the census also determine the number of seats each state will have in the U.S. House of Representatives, and they are used to draw congressional and state legislative districts.

What about my privacy?

The Census Bureau is bound by Title 13 of the U.S. Code to keep your information confidential.

The Census Bureau cannot release any identifiable information about you, your home, or your business, even to law enforcement agencies. The law ensures that your private data is protected and that your answers cannot be used against you by any government agency or court.

The answers you provide are used only to produce statistics. You are kept anonymous: The Census Bureau is not permitted to publicly release your responses in any way that could identify you or anyone else in your home.

From the beginning of the data collection process, the Census Bureau follows industry best practices and federal requirements to protect your data.

How do I know if 2020 Census requests are real or a scam?

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—and may be infected with malware.

It is important to know that the Census Bureau will not send unsolicited emails to request your participation in the 2020 Census. Further, during the 2020 Census, the Census Bureau will never ask for:

• Your Social Security number.
• Your bank account or credit card numbers.
• Money or donations.

In addition, the Census Bureau will not contact you on behalf of a political party.

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 that they have a valid ID badge, with their photograph, a U.S. Department of Commerce watermark, and an expiration date.
• If you still have questions about their identity, you can call 800-923-8282 to speak with a local 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.

How do I participate?

In mid-March, households will begin receiving official Census Bureau mail with detailed information on how to respond to the 2020 Census.

By April 1, 2020, every home will receive an invitation to participate in the 2020 Census. You will have three options for responding: online, by phone, by mail.

There are many ways the 2020 Census can shape your community. All answers to questions posed in this blog are excerpted from the US Census 2020 website: https://2020census.gov/ with some edits for blog brevity. Please visit the site to learn more. Read stories here on the census site to learn how census data impacts communities. To see the questions that will be asked on the 2020 census form, go to https://2020census.gov/en/about-questions.html