Sacramento residents are encouraged to take the U.S. 2020 Census as soon as possible to make sure they are represented in the population count that occurs each decade.
Time is of the essence. The federal government recently announced that the Census would wrap up a month earlier than expected — Sept. 30 rather than Oct. 31.
More than just counting people, the Census has repercussions that last a decade at a time. Census results help to determine what vital programs are funded, where county lines should be drawn and how many political representatives each county and city gets.
Starting this month, Census takers have started visiting Sacramento households that haven’t complete the survey. It’s important to note that:
- Census takers wear a mask and conduct all interviews from outside peoples’ homes.
- They can be identified by their official badges.
- Visits take place between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m., including on weekends when people are most likely to be home.
- If Census workers don’t speak the language of those who live in the households they visit, the residents can request a return visit from someone who does.
Residents are also encouraged to take the Census online, by phone, or through the mail. Phone lines are also set up for people to respond in English, Spanish and other languages. Find the right number for your language here.
Residents of Sacramento County are doing a good job of responding to the census so far. As of the end of July, 69.3 percent of residents had completed their census questionnaire, the eighth best rate in California. That compares to a 70.1 percent self-response rate in the 2010 Census.