Tewksbury Officials Remind Residents To Participate In Census 2020

Press release from the Town of Tewksbury:

April 28, 2020

By now everyone has received the Census 2020 invitation mailing, and possibly one or two follow-up mailings encouraging you to respond. The invitation mailings are addressed to “Resident” at the household address and do not include an individual’s name. Along with the invitations, you can expect to find an overview of the census, a census ID number linked to your address, the address to use to respond online, and a phone number to call if you need help.

If a household does not respond to the census via the online, phone or mail methods, a census taker will follow up in person. In light of the COVID-19 outbreak, the U.S. Census Bureau is adjusting 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.
• Ensure a complete and accurate count of all communities.

The Census Bureau temporarily suspended 2020 Census field data collection activities in March. Steps are already being taken to reactivate field offices beginning June 1, 2020, in preparation for the resumption of field data collection operations as quickly as possible following June 1.

In-person activities, including all interaction with the public, enumeration, office work and processing activities, will incorporate the most current guidance to promote the health and safety of staff and the public. This will include recommended personal protective equipment (PPE) and social distancing practices.

Households can still respond on their own during this period, and if they do, they will be removed from the nonresponse follow-up workload. People are encouraged to answer all questions on the 2020 Census to avoid having a census taker knock at their door.

Responding to the 2020 Census is easy, safe and important, and it is key to shaping the future of communities. Census statistics are used to determine the number of seats each state holds in the U.S. House of Representatives and informs how billions of dollars in public funds are allocated by state, local and federal lawmakers for public services like emergency response, schools, hospitals and bridges over the next 10 years.

2020census.gov now includes instructions about how to respond to the 2020 Census online. Expanded “How to Respond” content includes links to the online form and a detailed timeline for response, examples of the letters and postcards mailed from the Census Bureau, and answers to frequently asked questions. 2020census.gov also includes instructions on how to respond by phone or mail.

It has never been easier to respond on your own, whether online, over the Phone or by mail—all without having to meet a census taker. To respond online, or to get additional information about the 2020 Census, go to 2020census.gov.

This press release was produced by the Town of Tewksbury. The views expressed here are the author’s own.