How Does the Census Work?

Sep 4, 2019

How do you count nearly 330 million people?

By first sending them a postcard. In mid-March next year, the U.S. Census Bureau will send each household a postcard inviting residents to either call or go online. Residents may then inform the bureau how many people reside at that address. The questionnaire for the census will then ask for the name, gender, age, and race/ethnicity of each person who resides at that address. It will also ask whether residents own or rent, and request a good contact phone number in case there needs to be a follow-up.

Finally, only one person should fill out the census for each household.