The census count will be conducted April 1. It will determine where billions of dollars are allocated for schools, roads, hospitals and other community resources. Results also determine redistricting for state and federal legislatures and how many seats Texas will have in the House of Representatives.
“This is the first year where it’s going to be done online, mostly,” said Chris Carathers, a census volunteer in the Roanoke area. “In March, everyone will get a card sent to their house with an easy questionnaire.”
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the 2020 census will ask recipients how many people are living or staying at their home as of April 1, 2020, whether the home is owned or rented and the age of each person in the household.
The census will not ask recipients for a social security number, donations, information on behalf of a political party or bank or credit card numbers, according to the bureau’s website.
“The census bureau is ready for the nation to respond next month,” U.S. Census Bureau Director Steven Dillingham said in a bureau news release.
“The invitations will remind respondents to include everyone living in the household, whether they are related or not. This includes young children,” he said. “Your response will impact communities for the next decade.”
The 2020 census will include a Census ID and instructions to respond online or by phone, the release said. Instructions are expected to arrive between March 12-20, along with a paper questionnaire for less populated areas of the country.
The census bureau will send at least four reminder letters and postcards between March 16 and April 27 if recipients do not respond, the release said.
If a household does not respond to any reminders, a census taker will make contact in person between May 13 and July 31.
