Census

It is a survey given the U.S. Census Bureau, a nonpartisan government agency, every 10 years. The census is required by the Constitution of the United States. It is very important that you respond to the census, because census data is used to determine how Illinois is represented in Congress and who gets grants and other from the federal and state government. $675 billion is distributed annually for schools, roads and other public services. Demographic data is used by businesses to determine, for example, where to build new supermarkets. Emergency responders use the data to find injured people after natural disasters.

The census counts people in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and five U.S. territories (Puerto Rico, American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands). Each household will receive an invitation to respond to a short questionnaire—online, by phone, or by mail. This will mark the first time that you will be able to respond to the census online.

Information learned through the census determines how money is distributed to states, counties, and communities. This money is for public schools, hospitals, and public works departments. If people are not counted in Orland Park, it might mean we would get less money to repair our roads.

After each census, state officials will review and redraw the boundaries of the congressional and state legislative districts in Illinois to account for population shifts.

You can respond to the census online, by phone or on a paper questionnaire. The online and phone questionnaire will be available in 13 languages. You can still complete a paper form, but these forms will only be available in English and bilingual English-Spanish.

Almost all households will receive an invitation letter in the mail with instructions for responding to the census online. The invitation will include a unique identification code called a Census ID or User ID. The online form will be optimized to allow people to respond on a smartphone, tablet, or computer. Using the Census ID helps the Bureau keep track of responses and prevent duplication. However, the Census ID is not required in order to respond online or by telephone. If you don’t have your Census ID handy, you can use your address instead.

The online questionnaire will be available in 13 languages (Arabic, Chinese [Simplified], English, French, Haitian Creole, Japanese, Korean, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, Tagalog and Vietnamese).

The Census Bureau has a toll-free phone hotline in 13 languages for people who have questions or need help responding to the census. You can also complete the questionnaire over the phone when you call.

As required by the Census Act, the U.S. Census Bureau submitted a list of questions to Congress on March 29, 2018. Based on those questions the census asks how many people are in your household and whether your home is owned or rented. You’ll be asked to count the number of people, including babies and people who may not have a permanent address, who are living or staying in your home. You’ll be asked to answer questions about age, race or ethnic identity, and relationships of people living at your address to you.

It takes about 10 minutes to complete the whole census form. You just do one for your whole household.

January 2020: The Census Bureau begins counting the population in remote Alaska.

April 1, 2020: Census Day is observed nationwide. By this date, every home will receive an invitation to participate in the census.

April 2020: Census takers begin visiting college students who live on campus, people living in senior centers, and others who live among large groups of people. Census takers also begin conducting quality check interviews to help ensure an accurate count.

May 2020: The Census Bureau begins visiting homes that haven’t responded to the census to make sure everyone is counted.

December 2020: The Census Bureau delivers apportionment counts to the President and Congress as required by law.

March 31, 2021: By this date, the Census Bureau will send redistricting counts to states. This information is used to redraw legislative districts based on population changes.

Yes. You can skip questions, submit an incomplete census form, and still be included in the head count. However, if you do this you might get a phone call, or a census worker might visit your house.

Everyone living in the United States is required to be counted as part of the census, and because the data is so important, the Census Bureau will send you a reminder letter if you haven’t responded by April 2020. If you do not respond then, you’ll receive a paper questionnaire you can mail back. If you don’t respond to the paper questionnaire, you’ll receive a visit from a census worker.

No. The 2020 census will not include a question about citizenship. It is important that you complete the census regardless of your immigration status.

Yes. Information you submit through the census form (either online, over the phone or on paper) is kept confidential by the U.S. Census Bureau, which is a nonpartisan government agency. The Census Bureau will never share information with immigration enforcement agencies or law enforcement agencies.

Please also know that the Census Bureau will never ask you for your social security number, money, donations, your bank account information, or a credit card number.

At the Orland Park Public Library!

Check This YouTube Video 

Visit United States Census 2020