Between March 12 and March 20, invitations to participate in the 2020 Census will start arriving in households across the country. Each home will receive an invitation to respond to a short questionnaire — online, by phone, or by mail.
The first Census was conducted in 1790, and one has been conducted every 10 years since then. The U.S. Constitution (Article I, Section 2) mandates a headcount every 10 years of everyone residing in the 50 states, Puerto Rico, and the Island Areas of the United States. This includes people of all ages, races, ethnic groups, citizens, and noncitizens. The 2020 Census will mark the 24th time that the country has counted its population since 1790.
The population totals from the Census determine the number of seats each state has in the House of Representatives. States also use the totals to redraw their legislative and school districts. The population totals also affect funding in your community, and data collected in the Census help decision makers know how your community is changing. Approximately $675 billion in federal funding is distributed to communities each year. This federal funding supports our hospitals, fire departments, schools, roads, and other resources based on Census data.
For the first time, you will be able to respond online, by phone, or by mail.
Counting every person living in the United States is a massive undertaking, and efforts begin years in advance. Here's a look at some of the key dates along the way:
• March 30 - April 1: The Census Bureau will count people who are experiencing homelessness over these three days. As part of this process, the Census Bureau counts people in shelters, at soup kitchens and mobile food vans, on the streets, and at non-sheltered, outdoor locations such as tent encampments.
• April 1: Census Day is observed nationwide. By this date, every home will receive an invitation to participate in the 2020 Census. Once the invitation arrives, you should respond for your home in one of three ways: Online, by phone, or by mail. When you respond to the census, you will tell the Census Bureau where you live as of April 1, 2020.
• April: Census takers will begin visiting college students who live on campus, people living in senior centers, and others who live among large groups of people. Census takers also begin conducting quality check interviews to help ensure an accurate count.
• May - July: Census takers will begin visiting homes that haven't responded to the 2020 Census to help make sure everyone is counted.
• December: The Census Bureau will deliver apportionment counts to the President and Congress as required by law.
• March 31, 2021: By this date, the Census Bureau will send redistricting counts to states. This information is used to redraw legislative districts based on population changes.
Thank you for taking the time to read this month’s column. If you have any questions, or need to get in touch with me and my office, email me at Natalie.Higgins@mahouse.gov or call (978) 227-5278. Also, please drop into my open office hours Monday nights at the Leominster Public Library from 5:30-7 and Friday mornings from 7-8 (by appointment).