The 2020 Census will conclude data collection operations on Sept. 30. California’s campaign to generate census response reached a critical milestone last Wednesday, with the percentage of households self-responding to the Census surpassing the rate compared to 2010.
“We’ve been on the ground in neighborhoods supporting community-based organizations to serve as trusted messengers. These steps set our state apart from other states, and that investment is paying dividends despite the challenges of the pandemic limiting our planned operations on the ground,” said Ditas Katague, director of the California Complete Count – Census 2020.
More than 68.4 percent (10.3 million) of California households have responded to the 2020 Census online, by phone or mail. In 2010, California’s self-response rate (SRR) was 68.2 percent. With just days remaining before the Sept. 30 deadline, it is critical for Californians who have yet to fill out the form to complete the confidential, nine-question survey now to help achieve a complete count.
“It is through the collective efforts of millions of Californians that we have surpassed our 2010 self-response rate. But make no mistake – we are not done yet. We know the hardest-to-count Californians still may be missed or undercounted given the shortened deadline, so it’s essential these households complete the form now,” said Katague. “We have just days to secure funding and representation in our state for the next decade. We haven’t been without our challenges – federal operational changes and instability, the impact of COVID-19, wildfires and more. Given all that, we are proud of this milestone and all those who have stood up to be counted for their families and their communities. It is not too late- we encourage everyone to complete their Census form today.”
The campaign continues to remind all Californians that they can respond to the Census online at https://my2020census.gov, by phone at (844) 330-2020, or by mail if they received a paper form. The Census is confidential and secure. Information is not shared with any other government agency.
