Learn about the Census in Person!
Wednesday, March 4, at 11:00am at the Bob Lucas Branch
Join us for a presentation by a representative from the U.S. Census Bureau to learn about the 2020 Census, how a complete count benefits our community, and ways to get involved to ensure all of Altadena gets counted. Bring your questions because we have answers!
The Altadena Library District has resources to help you complete the 2020 Census online, over the phone, or on paper! #CountOnLibraries
Everyone Counts!
The goal of this census is to count every living person in the U.S. once, only once, and in the right place.
Census data are important: The U.S. Constitution requires a census every 10 years. The results are used to determine the number of seats each state has in Congress, draw boundaries for voting districts, and determine how more than $675 billion in federal funding is spent in communities each year. Our community benefits the most when everyone is included in the census count!
Taking part is your civic duty: Completing the census is mandated by the Constitution; it is an important way to participate in the democratic process and say, “I count!”
Your information is confidential: Federal law protects your responses. Your answers can only be used to produce statistics and cannot be used against you by any government agency or court.
How to Respond by Mail
Below is a timeline of when households will start receiving instructions via mail. The Census Bureau will automatically send you a paper form in about two weeks if you do not complete the questionnaire online. Mail the completed questionnaire in the postage-paid envelope you received. You do not need to mail the paper questionnaire back if you submitted your census responses online or by telephone.
How to Respond Online
The first invitation from the Census Bureau will include your Census ID and instructions for responding to the census online. CLICK HERE for an in-depth video guide through the online census questionnaire.
How to Respond by Phone
Beginning March 9, 2020, all language lines will begin live census support providing information about the 2020 Census and assistance with the questionnaire. CLICK HERE for a full list of phone numbers for each language. Follow instructions in the invitation you receive in the mail to submit your responses by phone.
Timeline
The U.S. Census Bureau will send out instructions and reminders via mail to every household starting March 12. For a more detailed timeline of what to expect during the Census, CLICK HERE.
| On or between: | You’ll receive: |
|---|---|
| March 12-20 | An invitation to respond online to the 2020 Census (Some households will also receive paper questionnaires) |
| March 16-24 | A reminder letter |
| March 26-April 3 | A reminder postcard |
| April 8-16 | A reminder letter and paper questionnaire |
| April 20-27 | A final reminder postcard before Census takers follow up in person |
FAQs
When can I complete the census?
Households will receive an invitation to respond to the 2020 Census between March 12-20. There are additional reminders to respond that will be mailed throughout the month. You can respond online, by phone, or by mail. If a household does not respond to the 2020 Census, a census taker will follow up in person to collect their response. This will occur between May-July.
What questions does the 2020 Census ask?
The 2020 Census asks how many people are living or staying at each address. For each person, we ask about name, sex, age, date of birth, relationship, Hispanic origin, and race. We also will ask whether the housing unit, such as the house, apartment, or mobile home, is owned or rented, and for contact information in case additional information is needed. The 2020 Census is not asking citizenship status, your full social security number, money or donations, anything on behalf of a political party or your bank or credit card numbers.
What happens to my responses?
The Census Bureau takes their responsibility to protect your information very seriously. The Federal Cybersecurity Enhancement Act of 2015 ensures that your data is protected from cybersecurity risks. The Census Bureau is not permitted to publicly release your responses in a way that could identify you or your household. By law, the Census Bureau can use your responses only to produce statistics. If you respond online, all web data submissions are encrypted in order to protect your privacy. If you respond using a paper questionnaire, your completed questionnaire will be destroyed after processing.
Will my information be disclosed to other agencies?
No. Your information is completely confidential and protected by law and cannot be shared with any other government agencies, including law enforcement or immigration officials. Federal law (U.S. Code Title 13, Section 9) protects your privacy and keeps your answers safe and secure. By law, the U.S. Census Bureau can use your responses only to produce statistics.
Is the census form available in different languages?
Yes. You can respond online in English and in 12 additional languages: Spanish, Chinese (Simplified), Vietnamese, Korean, Russian, Arabic, Tagalog, Polish, French, Haitian Creole, Portuguese, and Japanese.
The online questionnaire conforms with the latest web accessibility guidelines. There will also be a video in American Sign Language to guide you through responding online.
We’ll also make help available by phone in those same languages. You can respond by phone in English, Spanish, Chinese (Mandarin and Cantonese) Vietnamese, Korean, Russian, Arabic, Tagalog, Polish, French, Haitian Creole, Portuguese and Japanese.
The paper form can be completed in English or Spanish.
How do I know whether someone works for the U.S. Census Bureau?
All Census Bureau workers carry official government badges that display a photograph, a Department of Commerce watermark, and an expiration date. You can also call your local regional office for verification.
[Source: 2020Census.gov]