[Archived] 2020 Census Takers to Begin Visiting Alexandria Households This Month

For Immediate Release: July 20, 2020

Beginning later this month, census takers will begin visiting households who have not yet responded to the Census, as the U.S. Census Bureau begins enumeration activities nationwide. The goal is to help everyone be counted in the 2020 Census. Completing the Census is safe, easy, and typically takes less than 10 minutes to complete.  

What Households Can Expect

• Census takers are required to wear masks when they visit, and to follow guidelines from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and state and local public health officials. Prior to visiting homes, census takers must complete a virtual COVID-19 training on physical distancing protocols and other health and safety guidance.
• Census takers are hired from the local community. All census takers speak English, and many are bilingual. If a census taker does not speak the householder’s language, the householder may request a return visit from a census taker who does. Census takers will also have materials on hand to help identify the household’s language.
• If no one is home when the census taker visits, the census taker will leave a notice of their visit with information about how to respond online, by phone, or by mail. People are encouraged to cooperate with census takers and ensure that everyone who was living in their household as of April 1, 2020, is counted.

How to Identify Census Takers

Census takers can be easily identified by a valid government ID badge that includes their photograph, a U.S. Department of Commerce watermark and an expiration date. To confirm a census taker’s identity, the public may contact their regional census center to speak with a Census Bureau representative.

Households Can Still Self-Respond

Households can still complete the 2020 Census online, by phone at 844.330.2020, or by completing the paper survey received in the mail. 

Every household is required by federal law to respond to the 2020 Census. The personal information provided is kept completely confidential, even from other government agencies. The survey is available in 13 languages, with language support available for 59 additional languages upon request.

Occurring only once every 10 years, the Census is the best opportunity to count all residents in Alexandria regardless of age, race, ethnicity, citizenship status, or any other demographic characteristic. An accurate count makes sure all residents are fairly represented in federal and state government and that $675 billion in federal resources are allocated correctly across state and local jurisdictions. Now, more than ever, Alexandria needs every resident to be counted, to ensure our community gets the funding it needs. For anyone who has not already completed their Census survey, now is the time to get counted.

Visit alexandriava.gov/Census2020 for more information on the City of Alexandria’s involvement in the 2020 Census. 

For media inquiries only, contact Andrea Blackford, Senior Communications Officer, at andrea.blackford@alexandriava.gov or 703.746.3959. 

For reasonable disability accommodation, contact jackie.cato@alexandriava.gov or call 703.746.3810, Virginia Relay 711.