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pdf2020 Census Operational
Adjustments Due to COVID-19
The 2020 Census is underway, and more than half of the households across America have responded
and more are responding every day. Online, phone, and mailed self-responses will continue
throughout the data collection process. In light of the COVID-19 outbreak, the U.S. Census Bureau
has adjusted 2020 Census operations in order to:
• Protect the health and safety of the American public and Census Bureau employees.
• Implement guidance from federal, state, and local authorities regarding COVID-19.
• Ensure a complete and accurate count of all communities.
The Office of Management and Budget and the Office of Personnel Management have provided
federal agencies with guidelines for resuming operations on an epidemiologically sound, data-driven
basis, adhering to the latest federal, state, and local guidance. The Census Bureau continues to
monitor the changing conditions at the state and local level, and in consultation with the appropriate
officials, update its planned start dates for selected operations in selected states.
The information the Census Bureau receives daily from FEMA and state and local authorities guides
Census Bureau decisions on timing. As a result, selected field operations will resume on a phased
schedule on a geographic basis.
Under the adjusted 2020 Census operational plan, the Census Bureau is conducting a series of
preparatory activities so we are fully ready to resume field activities as we continue to advance
the mission of the 2020 Census to ensure a complete and accurate count. In-person activities,
including enumeration, office work, and processing activities, will always incorporate the most
current guidance from authorities to ensure the health and safety of the public and Census Bureau
employees.
Activity/Operation
Original Schedule New Schedule
Self-Response Phase
March 12–July 31
March 12–
October 31
April 2–June 5
April 2–
September 3
Online, phone, and mailed self-responses continue
throughout the data collection process.
Group Quarters (e-Response and
Paper Enumeration)
Many group quarters have already begun responding
through our e-response enumeration option.
Connect with us
@uscensusbureau
For more information:
2020CENSUS.GOV
D-FS-GP-EN-022 April 27, 2020
Activity/Operation
Original Schedule New Schedule
Remote Alaska
January 21–April 30
Tentatively
January 21–
June 19, but may
need further review
and coordination
March 1
June 1
March 15–April 17
June 13–July 9
March 15–April 17
Needs further
review and
coordination with
outside partners
and stakeholders.
March 16–April 30
June 14–July 29
May 13–July 31
August 11–
October 31
April 2–June 5
July 1–September 3
March 30–April 1
Needs further
review and
coordination with
outside partners
and stakeholders.
March 30–July 31
Needs further
review and
coordination with
outside partners
and stakeholders.
Early operation to reach parts of Alaska that may
be difficult to reach later in the year and whose
populations depart for other activities. The operation
will be mostly completed on the original planned
schedule, though some areas with year-round
populations will be enumerated when it is safe to do so.
Field Offices at Peak Operations
Managers and staff commence administrative, training,
deployment, and support activities for peak data
collection operations. This includes selecting and hiring
field staff.
Update Leave—Stateside
Census takers drop off invitations to respond and
paper questionnaires at the front doors of 5 million
households stateside while updating the addresses.
Update Leave—Puerto Rico
Update Leave Operation for the Commonwealth of
Puerto Rico, approximately 1.7 million households, will
be coordinated separately.
Update Enumerate
Census takers interview about 2,000 households in
remote parts of northern Maine and southeast Alaska.
Nonresponse Followup (NRFU)
Census takers will interview households in person.
In-Person Group Quarters Enumeration
Group quarters that remain a part of our in-person
group quarters enumeration efforts will begin in July.
Service-Based Enumeration
We’re working with service providers at soup kitchens,
shelters, and regularly scheduled food vans to count
the people they serve.
Mobile Questionnaire Assistance
Census Bureau staff assists people with responding
online at places people gather (events, grocery stores,
etc.).
2020CENSUS.GOV
Activity/Operation
Original Schedule New Schedule
Count of People Experiencing Homelessness
Outdoors
April 1
Needs further
review and
coordination with
outside partners
and stakeholders.
April 9–May 4
Tentatively
September 3–
September 28,
but may need
further review and
coordination.
July 31, 2020–
December 31, 2020
October 31, 2020–
April 30, 2021
January 1, 2021–
March 30, 2021
May 1, 2021–
July 31, 2021
By December 31,
2020
Deliver by April 30,
2021
President Delivers Apportionment Counts to
Congress
Within 7 days of
start of legislative
session or approximately 10–20 days
after receipt.
Within 14 days of
receipt.
Deliver Redistricting Counts to States
By April 1, 2021
Deliver by July 31,
2021
Census takers count people under bridges, in parks, in
all-night businesses, etc.
Enumeration of Transitory Locations
Census takers count people staying at campgrounds,
RV parks, marinas, and hotels if they do not usually live
elsewhere.
Process Apportionment Counts
fter collection activities are complete, Census Bureau
A
experts run and review output from programs to
unduplicate responses, determine final housing unit
status, populate any missing housing unit data on
household size, and finalize the universe to be included
in the apportionment count file.
Process Redistricting Data
Census Bureau experts run and review programs to
populate any missing demographic data for each
household, run differential privacy programs to ensure
confidentiality, and run tabulation programs for each
state delivery.
Deliver Apportionment Counts to the President
By law, the Census Bureau will deliver each state’s
population total, which determines its number of seats
in the U.S. House of Representatives.
By law, the Census Bureau will deliver the local counts
each state needs to complete legislative redistricting.
2020CENSUS.GOV
| File Type | application/pdf |
| File Title | 2020 Census Operational Adjustments Due to COVID-19 |
| Subject | 2020 census operational adjustments-long version |
| Author | U.S. Census Bureau |
| File Modified | 2020-04-28 |
| File Created | 2020-04-27 |