Special 2020 Census Call or Respond Online

by Michele Boy | April 3, 2020

The 2020 Census is here but like everything else it looks different due to COVID 19. 

Did you know you can call to answer questions in English or Spanish? Or go online.  It has never been easier to self-report. 

Households can call 844-330-2020 to provide their responses in English and 844-468-2020 for Spanish.

Special notice regarding PO Boxes – We know that several communities with PO Boxes have not received a letter yet. Census letters must be tied directly to physical addresses; therefore, cannot be sent to PO Boxes. This operation has been temporarily suspended for the next couple of weeks. As an option, a person can go online or call to  fill out their survey.

Households can still respond online - To do that, they go to the census website (www.my2020census.gov) and right underneath the place to enter a code is a link that says “If you do not have a Census ID, click here.” A person can click on that and enter their physical address then continue on with the survey.

Public health and safety are absolutely critical at this moment of uncertainty. That is the case for the public as well as Census Counts organizations, staff, and volunteers. We must fulfill our constitutional obligation to complete the 2020 Census and count every single person in the United States. Our country’s future depends on it. 

It is important to note that the U.S. Census Bureau is legally required to keep your answers confidential, in fact, Title 13 of the U.S. Code says the Census Bureau cannot release any identifiable information about you, even to law enforcement. The reason the Census Bureau guarantees this security is because our government, businesses, and longevity as a country deeply rely on the data and statistics produced by the Census.

In the age of technology, we all have different levels of knowledge and comfort. When it comes to the handling of our responses to Census questions, the Bureau follows the best practices and all federal requirements to protect our information; security is a top priority and the IT infrastructure used to collect and process our data is designed to defend against cyber threats.iii While the U.S. Census Bureau is highly proficient in data protection and technology, we as participants may not be.

Tips to avoid scams. Do not fret if you are not entirely confident or sure how to spot scams, especially online, the U.S. Census Bureau has some tips. The Federal Trade Commission defines phishing as a practice used by scammers through text message or email to attempt to trick you into giving up your personal information. The U.S. Census Bureau makes it clear they will never send unsolicited emails to request your participation in the 2020 Census. Furthermore, they will never ask for:

•Your Social Security Number;

• Your bank account or credit card numbers; and

• Money or donations.

With these online safety tips in mind, the U.S. Census Bureau also wants you to stay safe at home. 

As conveyed earlier, the data gathered through this process is important and informative to our government, businesses and citizens; that being said, if at any point in your Census experience you suspect fraud, call 800-923-8282 to speak with a local Census Bureau representative.vii The U.S. Census Bureau continuously emphasizes they want participants to  have an easy, safe, and secure experience. Your participation is key in helping the U.S. Census Bureau better understand our country and our needs. 

Some cool facts: The census began on Aug. 2, 1790, and officially ended nine months later (May 2, 1791) but several states (Rhode Island, Vermont and South Carolina) and the Southwest Territory received extensions.

Despite the difficulties and challenges the U.S. marshals faced, Secretary of State Thomas Jefferson put the first data tables in an official government document on Oct. 24, 1791, and issued the final report in 1793, after South Carolina’s count was completed: The United States had a population of 3,929,214. 

The census website 2020Census.gov is also live and can accept your response in English and 12 non English languages or by calling phone questionnaire assistance (844-340-2020) or by responding online (https://2020census.gov/en/ways-to-respond/responding-by-phone.html).

Last Thursday, Hamilton County had a 12.3% response rate. Thanks to Lora Horton’s social media efforts, the response rate has risen to 19.2%. In 2010 our county’s response was 51%.

Now more than ever we need to support our county. The data collected will help us in funding as well as our voting districts.  You matter!