In a time when we don’t answer our phones if we don’t recognize the number and we don’t answer our doors if we aren’t expecting visitors, Census Takers are taking on a challenging but important job.

Starting July 30, census takers will begin interviewing households in Eastern Wisconsin.  Click here to see if your community is included.  Census takers will begin visiting the rest of WI starting on August 11.  Visits will be limited to homes that did not complete the Census.  Households can still respond now by completing and mailing back the paper questionnaire they received, by responding online at 2020Census.gov, or by phone at 844-330-2020. Households can also respond online or by phone in one of 13 languages and find assistance in many more.

About the 2020 Census
The U.S. Constitution mandates a census of the population every 10 years. The goal of the 2020 Census is to count everyone who lives in the United States on April 1, 2020 (Census Day). 

Here’s why you should complete the Census and allow the Census Takers to follow up with you.  A successful count in the 2020 Census is critical to ensure that every kid, every family, and every community receives the appropriate share of more than $400 billion a year in federal funds to support our communities. These federal funds are divided between all 50 states, Washington, DC, and U.S. Territories, based on the total count of people living in each of those areas. This funding supports important programs for our families, including: childcare, food assistance, health insurance, special education, temporary assistance to families in need, and keeping children safe in foster care.  The Census statistics are also used to determine the number of seats each state holds in the U.S. House of Representatives.

With the COVID-19 pandemic, Census Takers are taking special precautions when they visit homes this summer.

What Households Can Expect
The Census Bureau will provide face masks to census takers and requires that census takers wear a mask while conducting their work. They will follow CDC and local public health guidelines when they visit. 

Census takers are hired from local communities. All census takers speak English, and many are bilingual. If a census taker does not speak the householder’s language, the household may request a return visit from a census taker who does. Census takers will also have materials on hand to help identify the household’s language. If no one is home when the census taker visits, the census taker will leave a notice of their visit with information about how to respond online, by phone or by mail.

How to Identify Census Takers
Census takers can be easily identified by a valid government ID badge with their photograph, a U.S. Department of Commerce watermark, and an expiration date on the badge. To confirm a census taker’s identity, the public may contact their regional Census center to speak with a Census Bureau representative.

Your Census responses are safe and secure
The Census Bureau is not allowed to share anyone’s private or personal information. This is the law. Title 13 of the U.S. Code of Law says that it is illegal for the Census Bureau to share census information with any government agency or court.  A census worker takes a lifetime confidentiality oath. If they break this oath, they could go to prison for five years and/or have to pay a $250,000 fine.

• Your Census responses cannot be used against you or your family – By law, the Census Bureau only uses your responses for statistics. Your census responses cannot be used against you by any government agency or court in any way. 

• Doing the Census cannot impact your immigration status – Everyone who lives in the United States on April 1, 2020 counts in the census. You do not have to be a citizen to do the census. If you live in the U.S., you count in the census. The Census won’t ask about your immigration status, and it has no impact on your current or future immigration status. The Census Bureau cannot give any information to any other federal agency.

• Landlords cannot see your census response – The government cannot share your census responses with anyone, not even your landlord. Doing the census will not affect your housing.

Please make sure you participate in the 2020 Census! It is necessary for our community’s ability to thrive. It is important that we have an accurate count of all kids in Wisconsin, for their future and for the future of the State of Wisconsin.