What is the census?
The census is a short questionnaire administered by the federal government every 10 years with the goal of creating an accurate population count. The information gathered through the census provides the basis for distributing more than $900 billion in federal funds annually to communities across the country.These funds support vital programs for our community and state, such as education (including federal student financial assistance), employment, healthcare, housing and public policy programs. Census information also is used to redraw the boundaries of congressional and state legislative districts and determine the number of congressional seats each state has in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Why should I participate in the census?
Information gathered through the census affects how political power and federal tax dollars will be distributed in the U.S. for the next 10 years. Census information is used to:- Ensure public services and funding for our schools, roads, hospitals and fire departments.
- Determine the distribution of funding among states for federal student financial assistance programs, such as the Federal Pell Grant program.
- Plan new homes and businesses and improve neighborhoods.
- Determine how many Electoral College votes West Virginia will receive and the number of seats allocated for our state in the U.S. House of Representatives.
When can I respond to the census?
Beginning in mid-March, you will receive a notice in the mail to complete the 2020 census. After receiving this notice, you can respond to the census online, via a paper form or by calling a 1-800 number to provide your response over the phone. In May, the U.S. Census Bureau will begin following up in person with those who haven’t responded to the 2020 census.What information will be requested by through the census?
The census will collect basic information about the people living in your household. Examples include:- The total number of people living or staying in a home on April 1, 2020.
- Whether the home is owned, rented or occupied without rent.
- A phone number for a person in the home.
- The name, sex, age, date of birth and race of each person in the home.
- Whether each person is of Hispanic, Latino or Spanish origin.
- The relationship of each person to a central person in the home.
- The Census Bureau will never ask for Social Security numbers, bank or credit card account numbers, money or donations or anything on behalf of a political party. View this sample paper form for details on information that will be collected through the census.
I have heard reports of a question regarding an individual’s citizenship status as part of the 2020 census. Will a citizenship question be included?
No. Although a question regarding an individual’s citizenship status was proposed last year, the proposal was blocked by the U.S. Supreme Court in June 2019. View this sample paper form for details on information that will be collected through the census.Who gets counted in the census?
The Census Bureau includes every person living in the U.S. on April 1, 2020 — regardless of their citizenship or immigration status.Residents are counted at the address where they usually live and sleep. Students living away from their parents’ or guardians’ home while attending college in the U.S. are counted at the on- or off-campus residence where they live on April 1, 2020. View these guidelines for more information.
I am not a West Virginia resident. Should my parents or guardians include me as part of their household in my home state or country?
No. You should respond to the census based on where you reside on April 1, 2020. Your parents or guardians should not include you as part of their household when responding to the census unless you are living with them on April 1, 2020.I am an international student? Should I participate in the 2020 census?
Yes. Counting all students is key to achieving the most complete census count, and that includes international students, regardless of their citizenship status. Anyone living in the U.S. on April 1, 2020, must be counted to achieve the census goal of counting every resident once and in the right place.Will the information I provide be kept confidential?
Yes. Strict federal law protects your census responses. It is against the law for the Census Bureau to share responses identifying individuals with the public or other federal agencies (including immigration authorities and other law enforcement) until 72 years after the information is collected.However, the Census Bureau can release anonymized census information about specific demographic groups at a level as detailed as a neighborhood.