Time is running out to respond to the 2020 Census

Now is the time to be counted in the 2020 Census. The Census Bureau is encouraging all Montanans to respond today.

"It has never been easier to respond on your own, whether online, over the phone or by mail — all without having to meet a census taker," said Laurie Cipriano with the U.S. Census Bureau. "This is the first year the census has been conducted primarily online, which has helped with responses during the pandemic."

Census takers in Montana are currently following up with households that have not yet responded - and it's making a difference. Montana's current total response rate is 81.5%. The national total response rate is 89.4%.

Census Taker Visits

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. Montanans 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 with their photograph, a U.S. Department of Commerce watermark, and an expiration date on the badge.

Health and Safety

The Census Bureau and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) are working together to protect the health and safety of the public and our employees.

Census takers are trained to follow CDC recommendations.

Ways to Respond Now

Online at 2020census.gov

By phone at 844-330-2020 in English and 12 Non-English languages

By mail using the paper questionnaire mailed to non-responding addresses

Response Rates & Timeline

2020 Census TOTAL Response Rates

2020 Census Self-Response Rate Map

For a revised Census timeline, visit the 2020 Census operational adjustments page.

The Census Bureau has a statutory deadline to deliver apportionment data by December 31, 2020.

About the 2020 Census

The U.S. Constitution mandates a census of the population every 10 years.

The goal of the 2020 Census is to count everyone who lives in the United States on April 1, 2020 (Census Day).

Census statistics inform how billions of dollars in federal funds will be allocated by state, local and federal lawmakers annually for the next 10 years.

Census statistics are used to determine the number of seats each state holds in the U.S. House of Representatives.

More Information

For more information, call 844-330-2020 or visit 2020census.gov.