Today is Census Day, the day that determines who is counted in the 2020 Census and where they are counted. The 2020 Census is open for self-response online at 2020Census.gov, over the phone by calling the number provided in your invitation, and by paper through the mail.

The U.S. Constitution mandates a census of the population every 10 years, and those statistics are used by federal and state lawmakers to allocate funding to Orange County communities for public services and infrastructure like hospitals, emergency services, schools and bridges each year over the next 10 years.

On average, 40.9% of households in the Fourth District have responded to the 2020 Census since invitations began arriving in mailboxes March 12-20. For every 1% of County population not counted, we will lose approximately $600 million in Federal funding. It is important that you and your family get a fair amount of representation and resources, especially in times like these.

If you’re at home during the current health crisis and haven’t responded to the census yet, take a few minutes to fill out the 9 questions for the 2020 Census online using a desktop computer, laptop, smartphone or tablet.

When you respond:

• Use your Census ID from your invitation or provide your current address.
  
  
• Respond for where you live as of April 1 (Census Day).
  
  
• Include everyone who usually lives and sleeps in your home as of April 1, even if they are staying somewhere else temporarily. This includes relatives, friends, roommates and anyone else who lives and sleeps in your home most of the time — even children under age five and babies born on or before April 1, even if they are still in the hospital.
  
  
• Count college students where they live while attending school. If they live on campus in university/college housing such as dorms or fraternity/sorority houses, they will be counted by school officials and do not need to respond. However, if they live off campus in private housing or apartments, they should respond to the census on their own using their off-campus address even if they are currently staying elsewhere.
  
  
• Find additional answers about “Who to Count” at 2020census.gov.

If you prefer to respond to the census over the phone, please call one of the phone numbers below:

Please make sure your friends, family and social networks know about the importance of responding and encourage them to complete their census on their own — all without having to meet a census taker. This is really important with the current health and safety guidance being provided by national, state and local health authorities. Responding now will also minimize the need for a census taker to follow up and visit your home later this year.

Some households — in areas less likely to respond online — have already received a paper questionnaire along with their first invitation.

Households that have not responded online or by phone will receive a paper questionnaire April 8-16. 

For more information, visit 2020census.gov.   

Please note: Based on continuing assessments of guidance from federal, state and local health authorities, the Census Bureau is suspending 2020 Census field operations for two additional weeks to April 15, 2020. The Census Bureau is taking this step to help protect the health and safety of the American public, Census Bureau employees, and everyone who will go through the hiring process for temporary census taker positions. The Census Bureau continues to evaluate all 2020 Census field operations and will communicate any further updates as soon as possible.