The 2020 Census is open for self-response online at 2020Census.gov, over the phone by calling the number provided in your invitation, and by paper through the mail. As of May 5, about 56.8% of households across the country have already responded since invitations began arriving in mailboxes on March 12. Households who do not respond to the census will receive an in-person visit by a census taker to collect their information later this summer. Everyone living in the United States and its five territories is required by law to be counted. The census can shape many different aspects of your community. Respond today!
The 2020 Census is in full swing, but only 38.4% of American households have responded!
This image was created on 4/2/20. For the most recent response data, check the 2020 Census website.
While Illinois has a slightly higher response rate than the current national average, less than half Illinois households have responded to the 2020 Census! But there is still time to respond!
This image was created on 4/2/20. For the most recent response data, check the 2020 Census website.
The 2020 Census marks the first Census with an online response option, so you can respond from home and maintain social distancing!
At some point over the last few weeks, you most likely received an invitation to respond to the 2020 Census (It probably looked something like this.) Your invitation will have complete information about ways to respond to the Census remotely (online, by phone, or by mail).
If you did not receive the first invitation, keep an eye out in April; the Census Bureau will follow up with households that have not yet responded.
It is especially important to respond to the invitation as soon as possible because of the current Covid19 crisis. At some point, Census workers will have to seek out household that have not responded to their 2020 Census invitations. Given current and projected social distancing guidelines, this is not ideal for households or for Census workers.
So, keep an eye out for you 2020 Census invitation and respond remotely! The 2020 Census will determine the distribution of federal funds to Illinois for the next decade, affecting health care, education, infrastructure, and more!
The 2020 Census is a bit different from previous Census years. For the first time, it is possible to submit your household’s Census response online! Beginning on March 12th, households will receive an invitation from the 2020 Census to respond online, by phone, or to request a paper response form.
The invitation your household receives in the mail should look something like this and include a Census ID number to use in your household’s response.
If you are unsure about any correspondence you receive related to the 2020 Census, check out this article from the U.S. Census Bureau on verifying Census-related mailings, surveys, or contacts.
The U.S. Census Bureau–and any people or correspondence related to the 2020 Census–will never ask for your Social Security Number, bank account details, or passwords. You can also contact the Chicago regional office by phone at 800-865-6384, the national Census Bureau helpline at 301-763-4636, or check out ask.census.gov.
If you reside in the United States or one of its five territories (Puerto Rico, American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands) it is required by law to be counted in the 2020 Census—citizen or not. The U.S. has counted its population every 10 years since 1790. Expect to receive an invitation to respond to the 2020 Census between March 12-20 that will ask for a response online, by phone, or mail. Census results determine how billions of federal funding dollars are allocated to communities for schools, roads, and other public services. Results from the 2020 Census also help determine seats that each state holds in Congress.
You can learn more about the 2020 Census by visiting 2020census.gov. The Moraine Valley Library is a resource for any questions and a place to respond online!
