Census Takers in Your Neighborhood
Why Were Census Workers Out in Communities?
Census takers played a critical role in the 2020 Census.
In July, they began visiting homes that hadn't responded to the census. These census takers are legally bound to protect your information.
But that's not the only role they play. You may have seen census workers in your neighborhood for a few different reasons:
- They were dropping off census materials.
- They were conducting quality checks related to the census.
- They were collecting responses for other ongoing Census Bureau surveys, such as the American Community Survey. (Please note: If you were invited to participate in one of these other surveys, you were still required to answer the 2020 Census.)
In 2019, census workers helped lay the groundwork for the 2020 Census by verifying addresses in neighborhoods across the country. These workers, called address canvassers, helped ensure a complete and accurate count by noting where houses, apartments, shelters, and other residences are located.
How Can You Verify That Someone Is a Census Taker?
Census takers are no longer visiting households to collect responses to the 2020 Census. However, some Census Bureau employees are visiting households as part of a survey to measure the accuracy of the 2020 Census. Other census workers are visiting homes to conduct one of our other surveys.
If someone visits your home to collect information for a Census Bureau survey, check to make sure they have a valid ID badge with their photograph, a U.S. Department of Commerce watermark, and an expiration date. Census workers may also carry Census Bureau bags and other equipment with the Census Bureau logo.
A look at some of the items Census Bureau employees may carry with them, including a laptop, laptop bag, confidentiality notices, and an "Official Business" notice for their vehicle.
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