2020 Census

COVID-19: 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.

Information regarding 2020 Census operational adjustments due to COVID-19 can be found here: https://2020census.gov/en/news-events/operational-adjustments-covid-19.html.

SELF-RESPONSE: The 2020 Census website is live! Remember, it’s quick and easy to respond, and all responses are safe, secure, and confidential.

Households can respond to the 2020 Census here: https://my2020census.gov/.

Households with limited internet access or households who choose not to respond online can respond by phone. The number for English speakers is 1-844-330-2020. The number for Spanish speakers is 1-844-468-2020. The complete list of phone numbers can be found here: https://2020census.gov/en/ways-to-respond/responding-by-phone.html.

Households can also respond by mail using the paper questionnaire that was recently mailed to every non-responding address.

Households that received a census invitation in the mail and have yet to respond will receive a paper questionnaire by April 30.

Households will receive another reminder postcard in the mail between April 27-May 9.

Some areas where census takers were originally going to personally hand-deliver forms will now receive a letter in the mail from the Census Bureau reminding them to participate. Even if households don’t receive a letter in the mail, the Census Bureau will drop off a census invitation and paper form as soon as it is safe to do so. Census takers will also follow up with all households that do not respond on their own.

RESPONSE RATES: As of April 27th, Mississippi’s self-response rate is 49.7%, and the national average is 53.4%. Mississippi currently ranks 36th in response rates by state. You can view self-response rates for your community here: https://2020census.gov/en/response-rates.html.

GET OUT THE COUNT VIDEO PRIZE CHALLENGE: Census Accelerate, an initiative of the U.S. Census Bureau's innovation team, has launched the first-of-its-kind Video Prize Challenge as an open call to content creators, from students to pros, to help get the word out about the 2020 Census through a short format video for a chance to win up to $30,000.

Additional information about this challenge may be found here: https://www.challenge.gov/challenge/2020-census-get-out-the-count-video-challenge/

For additional information about the 2020 Census, visit www.2020census.gov and www.mscensus2020.org.