Don’t be left out of the count!
What is the Census? Every 10 years, the U.S. government counts everyone, regardless of age or citizenship status. This year, the Census is available online, by phone, or by mail.
Top Reasons to Fill Out Your Census Form
It’s EASY: Fill out a Census form online, by phone (844-330-2020), or by mail — and your community wins!
It’s About Your MONEY: North Carolina receives about $23.8 billion a year in federal funding from Census data for vital things like education, health care, and transportation. The number of people counted in your community decides how much government money comes back to where you live.
It’s About Your POWER: The number of people counted in your community affects how voting districts are drawn, who you get to vote for, and how many people represent you. More people counted means more political power at all levels.
It’s About Your FUTURE: Government and business leaders use the Census to make plans for your community – including whether you’ll get new grocery stores, hospitals, schools, and more.
Got questions?
Call our hotline — 507-COUNTED (507-268-6833) — to learn more.
Get Involved:
- Join the N.C. Census Task Force.
Help educate North Carolinians — to learn more about the Task Force and/or to receive more info on monthly meetings, email Stacey Carless at Stacey@NCCensus.org. - 2020 Census Jobs.
It’s not too late to apply for a temporary part-time position with the 2020 Census. Apply now to earn extra income and help your community.
North Carolina is projected to gain an additional seat in Congress, assuming there is an accurate 2020 Census for the state.
“ ...an accurate count of the U.S. population forms the basis for many important but often overlooked political, economic, and social decisions that are made that end up affecting our daily lives.” –C.N. Le, Professor at University of Massachusetts, Amherst
One Form, 9 Questions, 100% Confidential
Sample of the 2020 Census Questionnaire (excludes URL/contact information): English | Spanish/Español
Answer simple questions about yourself and everyone living with you as of April 1, 2020:
- How many people were living or staying in this house, apartment, or mobile home on
April 1, 2020? Includes everyone living and sleeping in your home most of the time. - Were there any additional people staying here on April 1, 2020, that you did not include in Question 1? Including any related or unrelated children; adult relatives, including in-laws; and adult non-relatives, such as roommates.
- Is this house, apartment, or mobile home owned by you or someone in this household with a mortgage or loan? This question helps produce statistics on homeownership and renting.
- What is your telephone number? In case there are any questions about your form.
- What is Person 1’s name? Start with the person who pays the rent or mortgage.
- What is Person 1’s sex? For the Census, you can only mark ONE box: male or female.
- What is Person 1’s age and date of birth? This means Person 1’s age as of April 1, 2020. For babies less than 1 year old, do not write the age in months. Write 0 as the age.
- Is Person 1 of Hispanic, Latino, or Spanish origin? For the Census, Hispanic origins are not considered races.
- What is Person 1’s race? You can mark one or more boxes AND print origins.
If more people live in your home, you’ll keep going, printing the name of “Person 2” and so on; also answer “Does this person usually live or stay somewhere else?;” and “How is this person related to Person 1?” Don’t worry — your privacy is protected.
As of 2016, North Carolina was the 12th fastest growing state in the country and the ninth most populous state in the country. Census data will be used to attract businesses to the state, and it will help our communities plan for growth.
Your Privacy is Protected.
Census responses are confidential.
Citizenship status is not asked, and no court, welfare or immigration agency – not even ICE – can see how you answered. Census workers face jail time for revealing anything on your form.
Important Census Info & Dates
Starting in March 2020, homes began receiving invitations to complete the 2020 Census. You can respond online at https://my2020census.gov/, by phone at (844-330-2020), or by mail (no postage needed).
- March 12 – 20, 2020: Households begin receiving official Census Bureau mail on how to respond.
- April 1, 2020 (Census Day): By this date, every home will receive a 2020 Census invitation.
- May – July 2020: Census takers will visit homes that haven’t responded to the Census.
- December 2020: The Census Bureau will deliver counts to the President and Congress.
- March 31, 2021: Counts will be sent to states to redraw voting districts using population changes.
Census data is used for allocation of $675 billion a year from large Census guided federal programs. North Carolina receives about $16 billion annually in federal funding from Census guided federal programs.