GOTC and COVID-19 - Nonprofit Vote

UPDATED: 8/25/20

The Census Bureau announced that the end of the self-response period has been extended to September 30. Click here to see the rest of the timeline adjustments the Census Bureau has made.

2020 Census Goes Door to Door

Starting July 16, the Census Bureau is going door-to-door to collect responses from households that did not complete the census on their own. You can view when “Non-Response Follow Up” is launching in your state, by visiting the CUNY Hard to Count Map at https://www.censushardtocountmaps2020.us.

Census Takers in Your Neighborhood

What to expect when census takers visit households that have no self responded to the census. https://2020census.gov/en/census-takers.html

Modified Mobile Questionnaire Assistance (MQA)

The Census Bureau has launched a modified version of MQA in low responding areas. The purpose of MQA is to promote and assist with responding to the 2020 Census. Instead of attending large events, MQA staff will target places where people visit when leaving home such as grocery stores, pharmacies, faith-based organizations, food pantries, libraries (if reopened), and city offices. Learn more about this effort at https://2020census.gov/content/dam/2020census/materials/partners/2020-07/mqa-overview.pdf

Key Reminders

The seventh mailing arrives in households August 27 through September 15. Paper Questionnaires must be postmarked by Sept. 30 and delivered to a Census Bureau processing center by Oct. 7 to be counted under the current operational timeline.
Interested in tracking 2020 Census Nonresponse Followup (NRFU) COMPLETION RATES in your community? – The Census Bureau is publishing daily, by state, (NRFU) completion and “total response” rates through October 1, 2020. Find out how to read this new data here.

Given that the CDC, many states and localities are asking for organizations to limit the number of people at gatherings and many events are being canceled, you may want to consider alternatives for GOTC outreach in your communities. The following are a few suggestions for outreach:

Here are some great talking points to impress upon those in the community you serve.
Remind the communities you serve that it has never been easier and more accessible to respond to the census online, over the phone, or by mail.
Share the message that the census website – my2020Census.gov – is live and residents can fill out the form via phone in English and 12 non-English languages. Here is a guide to share on how to start that process.
Consider phone banking, text bank, emails, and other strategies to encourage the Hard to Count communities you serve to participate in the census.
Census Digital U offers on-demand digital training focused on effective GOTC practices like SMS, online advertising, integrating online/offline are covered at length, and featuring various digital organizing experts.
See other resources like the State Voices Field Guide, the Community Connect Labs, Coronavirus Demands a Quantum Leap in Organizing.

Learn more at censuscounts.org