2020 Census Count Question Resolution Operation

2020 Census Count Question
Resolution Operation (CQR)
CQR a˜ords governments the opportunity to
ask the U.S. Census Bureau to review the
2020 Census housing counts.

CQR

CQR allows tribal, state, and local governmental units (GUs)
in the 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico,
to request the Census Bureau review their 2020 Census
counts of housing and correct certain errors discovered in the
census results. CQR cases are focused on the housing inventory (e.g., housing units
and group quarters) for specifc census blocks, not the overall population count for
the GU or census blocks.

Schedule
2020 Census CQR occurs between
January 3, 2022, and June 30, 2023.
December 2021: The Census Bureau
distributes the introduction letter

Governments may use revised counts for future programs
requiring o°cial census data.

and fyer to the highest elected or
appointed o°cial in each tribal,

If the Census Bureau makes corrections, it will issue new, o°cial 2020 Census counts
to the highest elected or appointed o°cials of all a˛ected GUs and will post the new
counts on the CQR Web site. GUs may use the revised counts for future programs that
require o°cial 2020 Census data. The Census Bureau will not incorporate revised
counts into any 2020 Census data products.

state, and local GU, including the

CQR participants will not see precise population counts
associated with individual census blocks because they are
subject to disclosure avoidance to protect individual privacy.

cases.

District of Columbia and Puerto
Rico.
January 3, 2022–June 30, 2023:
The Census Bureau receives CQR
January 3, 2022–September 30,
2023: The Census Bureau

2020 Census data, including population counts associated with individual census
blocks, are subject to disclosure avoidance methods. For more information on Census
Bureau disclosure avoidance methods and efforts to ensure individuals' privacy, visit
. These measures are taken to
protect the privacy of the individuals who live in housing units and group quarters.
Therefore, CQR participants will not see precise counts of people below the state
level in published data. If corrections are warranted regarding missing or improperly
located housing, the Census Bureau will publish the corrections, including updated
housing and population counts for the GU.

conducts research to determine if
cases are in scope for CQR and
determine the validity of cases.
As a result, revised housing and
population counts, and boundary
maps (if applicable), may be
produced and provided to a˛ected
GUs.

The Census Bureau will respond to all CQR requests and
notify all affected governments of any corrections to official
counts.
The Census Bureau will respond to all cases, even if the case is considered out
of scope for CQR, and will notify all affected GUs of any corrections to their
official counts resulting from a CQR decision. This notifcation, in the form of a
determination letter, may span beyond the CQR participant to adjacent or
overlapping GUs.

For more information about 2020
Census CQR, please visit
.
For additional assistance, please contact
the Census Bureau by e-mail at

or by telephone at 1-888-369-3617.

CQR Case Types
Boundary cases request a Census Bureau review of legal GU boundaries in
e˛ect as of January 1, 2020, and the associated housing a˛ected by the
boundaries.
Housing Count cases request a Census Bureau review of the geographic location
or placement of housing within specifed 2020 census tabulation blocks and of the
census records to determine whether a census processing error excluded valid
housing (i.e., housing that existed and was available for occupancy on April 1,
2020).

Submitting a CQR Case
GUs are encouraged to submit their cases electronically. Those unable to participate
electronically may contact the Census Bureau for additional options.

Eligible Participants
The following active, functioning

Cases can be prepared electronically using Geographic Update Partnership Software
(GUPS), local geographic information system (GIS) software, or a combination of
electronic, non-GIS materials. GUPS is a self-contained, customized GIS software tool
that uses spatial fles and templates for providing CQR case data to the Census Bureau
and is available free for download from the CQR Web site. It may be useful for
participants that lack a GIS or have limited geographic training and knowledge of
census spatial data.

GUs are eligible to participate:

Boundary cases require maps (e.g., digital or hard copy) and a list of associated
individual residential addresses, while housing count cases only require updated
housing counts by block for the blocks in question. For details and specifc instructions
on how to submit a case, please refer to the participant guides located on the CQR
Web site.

and Alaska Native villages.

Example Scenario and Outcomes of a CQR Investigation
A town representative reviews the counts of housing units and group quarters for
individual census blocks within their boundary and suspects the Census Bureau may
have missed a relatively new housing development. The designated representative
could identify the specifc blocks where they believe the houses were missed and
provide evidence of their existence, such as local building records and certifcates of
occupancy indicating they existed as of April 1, 2020. Possible outcomes include:

• Tribal areas, including federally
recognized American Indian tribes
with reservation and/or
o˛-reservation trust lands, Alaska
Native Regional Corporations,

• States and equivalent entities.
• Counties and equivalent entities.
• Minor civil divisions
(e.g., townships).
• Consolidated cities.
• Incorporated places
(e.g., villages, towns, cities).

• The houses were included in the census, but in a different block in the town. Given
sufficient evidence, the Census Bureau staff would move the houses to the correct
block and issue updated housing counts for the affected blocks.
• The legal boundary for the town was incorrect in the census geographic records,
and therefore the houses were erroneously considered outside of the town. Given
sufficient evidence, the Census Bureau staff would correct the legal boundary and
issue revised housing counts and population for the affected GUs. Please note that
additional supporting documentation is required to make a boundary correction,
and that the Census Bureau would work with the town to acquire that additional
documentation.

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09/21/2021