The 2020 Census counts every person living in the United States and five U.S. territories. The census provides important information that lawmakers, business owners, teachers, and many others use to provide services, products, and support for communities. Every year, billions of dollars in federal funding go to schools, hospitals, fire departments, roads, and other resources based on census data.
Census results also determine the number of seats each state will have in the U.S. House of Representatives, and are used to draw congressional and state legislative districts.
Participating in the census is required by law. Also, a complete and accurate count is critical for communities, as census results affect community funding, congressional representation, and more.
People have several options for completing the census, including:
The U.S. Census Bureau is bound by law to protect people’s census answers and keep them strictly confidential. In fact, every employee takes an oath to protect respondents’ personal information for life. The 2020 census seeks to count both U.S. citizens and non-citizens living in the United States, but does not ask about citizenship status. The law prevents the Census Bureau from sharing people’s census responses with law enforcement. Answers cannot be used to impact people’s eligibility for government benefits. Answers are only used to create statistics about our country.
For more information, visit https://2020census.gov/en/news-events/rumors.html.
Many educators are looking for options that can be used in homes to keep their students engaged and learning. The U.S. Census Bureau can help with free activities and resources for pre-K through 12th grade that are:
These materials, created by teachers, can be used to enhance learning in a variety of subject areas. Visit https://2020census.gov/en/educators.html to learn more.