Daytona Beach, FL - With the coronavirus outbreak coinciding with the rollout of the 2020 census, the U.S. Census Bureau is of course, taking precautions. Officials say that there are two key principles in mind: protecting the health and safety of our staff and the public, and fulfilling our statutory requirement to deliver the 2020 Census counts to the President on schedule.
Invitations to take part in the Census went out last week. Over 5 million have responded online to the 2020 Census. Currently, the planned completion date for data collection for the 2020 Census is July 31, 2020, but that date can and will be adjusted if
necessary as the situation dictates in order to achieve a complete and accurate count.
To fill out the Census online, you will need your invitation. Under the bar code at the top of the questionnaire, you'll find a 12-character code. You enter it online to get to your particular invitation. If you want to fill out the U.S. Census form online but don't have an invitation, you'll see the sentence: "If you do not have a Census ID, click here." You'll be asked for your address and be assigned a 12-digit Census I.D. Filling it out online is fairly quick, depending on how many people live in yur house.
You can also complete the questionnaire over the phone. For English, the number is 844-330-2020. For Spanish, the number is 844-468-2020. The questionnaire is also available for a number of other languages. You can find those online by clicking here.
If you've received the invitation, you can complete the paper form if you like. You are instructed to use a blue or black ink to fill it out. When finished, return the questionnaire in the envelope provided. If you have lost your return envelope, please mail your completed questionnaire to:
U.S. Census Bureau
National Processing Center
1201 E 10th Street
Jeffersonville, IN 47132
Modifications include how college students and those living in group settings will be counted. Students have for the most part been sent home around the country. During the census, live-away students are counted at their college, rather than at their home. Schools are being contacted to ask whether they would like to change how the count is handled in light of the emerging situation.
The beginning of the Mobile Questionnaire Assistance program is being delayed. Assistance with responding to the 2020 Census at
events and locations where people naturally gather is being delayed until April 13, two weeks later than the previously planned start of March 30.
Census takers begin following up first with households that haven’t responded yet around some colleges and universities. The start of this effort is being moved back from April 9 to April 23.
