Help Carlsbad Thrive by Completing Your 2020 US Census! Deadline is Approaching

Time is running out to get your census in before the September 30th deadline. The U.S. Census — as mandated by the Constitution — is conducted every 10 years with the objective of counting the entire population. The information collected helps determine congressional representation, the boundaries of legislative districts, and how much of the $675 billion per year federal funding each community receives. These funds, spent on schools, hospitals, roads, public works, and other essential programs, are crucial for the success and health of the residents of Carlsbad, New Mexico.

Census data is also invaluable for businesses and developers. Businesses can use census data to decide where to locate by pinpointing the very best demographic area where they can thrive. Developers can use this data to hone plans to revitalize areas of the county.

The census questions are few in number and do not take much time to answer — information about the gender, age, and race of each person living at your address is requested. There are not any questions about citizenship. Further explore the questions and the rationales behind them here.

The census usually relies heavily on in-person house visits by census takers to collect data. However, because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Census Bureau had to stop all door-to-door transactions until very recently. Beginning in July, the Census Bureau resumed door-to-door visits for households that have not yet responded by phone, mail, or online. Of note, it is still not too late to self-respond. In fact, if you respond online or by phone today, a census taker is less likely to have to visit your home to collect your response.

But rest assured, if a census taker does visit your home, they will wear masks and follow local public health guidelines. All census takers have completed a virtual COVID-19 training on social distancing and other health and safety protocols before beginning their work in your neighborhood. They will each have an ID badge with their photograph, a U.S. Department of Commerce watermark, and an expiration date. Census workers may also carry Census Bureau bags and other equipment with the Census Bureau logo.

While the collection process was originally scheduled to take place from March 12, 2020, to July 31, 2020, the COVID-19 crisis caused the Census Bureau to extend the deadline to September 30, 2020. The census data is scheduled to be completed and delivered to the President of the United States by December 31, 2020, as required by law and directed by the Secretary of Commerce. 

Most households received an invitation to respond to the 2020 Census around March 12-20, 2020. Each household was also given a Census ID that needs to be inputed when completing the census online at my2020Census.gov. Don’t worry though, there are instructions on the website for completion even if you cannot locate your Census ID. In addition, households can still mail in their responses or call 844-330-2020 to complete the survey by phone.

The U.S. Census Bureau is doing its best to ensure that the census continues while also protecting the health of its employees and fellow Americans. Now the residents of Carlsbad need to do their part to get the funding the community deserves and needs by taking the easy steps required to complete their surveys today.

As of the beginning of August, 93 million households — nearly 63 percent of all households in the U.S. — had responded to the 2020 Census. In New Mexico, the self-response rate was 53.6 percent, while Carlsbad’s was 51.2 percent. 

In a community the size of Carlsbad, it is vital that every resident is tallied. Let’s strive for 100 percent response! The Census Bureau has an interactive map where you can keep track of how the responses from Carlsbad are adding up. While you keep tabs on local response rates, check out the tools here you can use to encourage your neighbors to respond.

The 2020 Census is more than a population count, it’s an opportunity to shape Carlsbad's future!