Department of Commerce
United States Census Bureau

Paperwork Reduction Act Program
Information Collection Request 2020 Census –
Evaluations and Experiments
OMB Control Number 0607-1006

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 Department of Commerce
United States Census Bureau
OMB Information Collection Request
2020 Census
OMB Control Number 0607-1006

Part A. Justification
1. Necessity of the Information Collection
The Census Bureau requests authorization from the Office of Management and Budget
(OMB) to collect information from the public for the 2020 Census.
The taking of a decennial census is mandated by Article 1, Section 2 of the U.S.
Constitution. Title 13, United States Code (U.S.C), Section 141 directs the Secretary to take a
decennial census of population and housing, determining its form and content, and further
authorizes the collection of such other census information in relation to the decennial census,
as necessary. These authorities are delegated to the Director of the Census Bureau under
Department of Commerce Organization Order 35-2A. The Census Bureau is required to conduct
the 2020 Census to collect the person and housing data that will be used for reapportionment,
redistricting, and various statistical data products, under Title 13, U.S. Code. Additionally, the
Census Bureau is authorized under Title 13 Section 193 to conduct surveys and collect
information before, during, and after the decennial census to assist in the conduct of the
decennial census.
In addition to the reapportionment of the U.S. Congress, census data are used to draw
legislative district boundaries within states. Census data also are used by numerous agencies to
determine funding allocations for the distribution of an estimated $675 billion of federal funds
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 each year, as of Fiscal Year 2015. This estimate includes decennial census data, American
Community Survey data, and geographic program data, as well as data that use any one of
these data sources as a critical input. The current distribution of funds estimate includes federal
programs that distribute funds for one of the following: selection and/or restriction of
recipients of funds, award or allocation of funds, and monitoring and assessment of program
performance.
The Census Bureau plans to conduct the most automated, modern, and dynamic
decennial census in U.S. history. Compared to the 2010 Census, the 2020 Census includes
design changes in four key areas, discussed below:
(1) New methodologies to conduct the Address Canvassing operation.
(2) Innovative ways of optimizing self-response.
(3) The use of administrative records and third-party data to reduce the Nonresponse
Followup (NRFU) operation workload.
(4) The use of technology to reduce the manual effort and improve the productivity of field
operations, while decreasing the amount of physical space required to perform the field
operations.
These innovations have been developed throughout the decade, using insight from 2010
Census lessons learned, stakeholder input, and ongoing technological development.
Multiple tests have been performed throughout the decade to provide data for decisions
and refine ongoing operational planning. These tests and the OMB control numbers that
apply are:
Generic Clearance for Questionnaire Pretesting Research: 0607-0725
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 Generic Clearance for Census Bureau Field Tests and Evaluations: 0607-0971
Federal Statistical System Public Opinion Survey: 0607-0969
2012 National Census Test: 0607-0970
2013 National Census Contact Test: 0607-0972
2013 Census Test: 0607-0975
2014 Census Test: 0607-0979
Address Validation Test: 0607-0809
2015 Optimizing Self-Response Test and 2015 Census Test: 0607-0981
2015 National Content Test: 0607-0985
2015 Group Quarters Electronic Capability Test Survey: 0607-0725
2016 Census Test: 0607-0989
Address Canvassing Testing: 0607-0992
2016 Service-Based Enumeration Census Test: 0607-0971
2017 Census Test: 0607-0996
2017 eResponse Data Transfer Test: 0607-0971
2018 End-to-End Census Test Address Canvassing Operation: 0607-0997
2018 End-to-End Census Test – Peak Operations: 0607-0999
Census Barriers, Attitudes, Motivators Study (Generic Clearance for Internet
Nonprobability Panel Pretesting): 0607-0978
(1) Reengineering Address Canvassing
An accurate address list is the cornerstone of a successful census. In order to manage
the work for decennial census operations, the Census Bureau uses the address and physical
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 location of each place where someone is, or could be, living. The Census Bureau maintains this
address list and spatial data for the United States and Puerto Rico in its Master Address File
(MAF)/Topologically Integrated Geographic Encoding and Referencing (TIGER) System database.
This database was created using the address files from the 1990 Census and has been
subsequently and regularly updated using:
•

Information collected from decennial census operation updates, including address and
spatial updates.

•

The Delivery Sequence File of addresses from the United States Postal Service (USPS).

•

Input from tribal, state, and local governments and third parties, including address and
boundary updates from various programs conducted over the decade, such as the Local
Update of Census Addresses operation (OMB control #0607-0994) and Geographic
Partnership Programs (OMB control #0607-0795).

•

Information collected in other Census Bureau programs, such as the American
Community Survey (OMB control #0607-0836).
The purpose of Address Canvassing is (1) to deliver a complete and accurate address list

and spatial database for enumeration and tabulation, and (2) to determine the type and
address characteristics for each living quarter.
Prior to a field Address Canvassing data collection, the Census Bureau delineates the
entire land area of the United States, Puerto Rico, and Island Areas into Type of Enumeration
Areas (TEAs) that indicate a combination of address list updating and enumeration strategies. In
the 2020 Census approximately 95 percent of the stateside United States living quarters were
delineated into the self-response area, where the address list is updated before the census,
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 census materials are provided in the mail, and self-response is supported and promoted. Other
areas are designated for Update Leave, Update Enumerate, Remote Alaska, or Island Areas
Enumeration.
For the 2020 Census there will be a full Address Canvassing of the country, but the
major design change from the 2010 Census is that Address Canvassing consists of In-Office
Address Canvassing complemented with In-Field Address Canvassing instead of full in-field
address canvassing. In-Office Address Canvassing is the process of using empirical geographic
evidence (e.g., imagery, comparison of the Census Bureau’s address list to partner-provided
lists) to assess the current address list and make changes where necessary. This component
also detects and captures areas of change from high-quality administrative records and thirdparty data. Advancements in technology have enabled continual address and spatial updates to
occur throughout the decade as part of the In-Office Address Canvassing effort, which began in
2015 and ended March 29, 2019. Also address list updates have been provided by the United
States Postal Service and address and map updates provided by geographic program partners.
Since 2015, satellite imagery has been used in the address frame development process for the
identification of areas where there are changes in living quarters. Where the necessary updates
can be captured from electronic sources and are deemed to be sufficiently accurate, In-Office
Address Canvassing completed the update process prior to the census. Otherwise, the block
becomes eligible to be sent to In-Field Address Canvassing for updating on the ground by field
staff.
In-Field Address Canvassing covers approximately 35 percent of the housing units in the
United States. Additional details about these processes are provided in the 2020 Census
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 Address Canvassing Detailed Operational Plan. History of the address list development process
begins on page 34 of the detailed operational plan.
(2) Optimizing Self-Response
The goal of this innovation area is to make it as easy and efficient as possible for people
to respond to the 2020 Census by offering new response options through the internet and
telephone, in addition to the traditional mailback paper questionnaire option. Self-response
reduces the need to conduct in-person follow-up operations to complete the enumeration, by
far the most expensive method of data collection. To that end, the Census Bureau will motivate
people to respond. In addition, the Census Bureau plans to make it easy for people to respond,
from any location at any time, even if they do not have the Census Bureau’s preassigned ID for
the address.
The importance of responding to the 2020 Census will be communicated in a variety of
ways, including through mailings, questionnaire delivery, advertising, and partnership efforts. In
particular, the Integrated Partnership and Communications operation is responsible for
communicating the importance of responding to the 2020 Census. Preparatory work for this
effort has been completed. Reports are available at the links below:
https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial/2020/program-management/finalanalysis-reports/2020-report-cbams-focus-group.pdf
https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial/2020/program-management/finalanalysis-reports/2020-report-cbams-study-survey.pdf
Internet response represents a substantial innovation for the Census Bureau’s use in a
decennial census. The internet was not a response option in the 2010 Census. The internet
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 response option has been included in multiple tests leading up to the 2020 Census: the 2014
Census Test; all three census tests performed in 2015; the 2016 Census Test; the 2017 Census
Test; and the 2018 End-to-End Census Test. It has also been used in production for the
American Community Survey since 2013.
Response by telephone is also being encouraged for the first time in the decennial
census. Telephone response was available but not encouraged in both Census 2000 and the
2010 Census. This decade the telephone response option was included in the 2012 National
Census Test, the 2014 Census Test, the 2015 Census Test, the 2015 National Content Test, the
2015 Optimizing Self-Response Test, the 2016 Census Test, the 2017 Census Test, and the 2018
End-to-End Census Test. The telephone response option will be operationalized through Census
Questionnaire Assistance.
(3) Utilizing Administrative Records and Third-Party Data
For the 2020 Census, “administrative records” and “third-party data” are terms used to
describe microdata records contained in files collected and maintained by federal, state, and
local government agencies (“administrative records”) and commercial entities (“third-party
data”) for administering programs and providing services. For many decades, the Census
Bureau has successfully and securely used administrative records and third-party data for
statistical purposes. For the 2020 Census, the Census Bureau intends to use administrative
records from both internal sources, such as data from previous decennial censuses and the
American Community Survey, and from a range of other federal agencies, including the Internal
Revenue Service (IRS), the Social Security Administration, the Centers for Medicare and
Medicaid Services, the Department of Housing and Urban Development, the Indian Health
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 Service, the Selective Service, and the U.S. Postal Service. The Census Bureau is also working to
acquire state government administrative records from enrollment in federal block grant
programs, such as the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Supplemental Nutrition Assistance
Program and the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children.
Throughout the decade, the Census Bureau continuously conducted analyses and
assessments to verify that the proposed uses of administrative records and third-party data
sources in the 2020 Census were appropriate in each instance. Based on the research, testing,
and analyses, the Census Bureau announced its plans in November 2015 to utilize
administrative records and third-party data in the 2020 Census. The 2020 Census Operational
Plan calls for employing this information for the following purposes:
I.

Consistent with previous decennial censuses, the Census Bureau will utilize
administrative records from federal and state government agencies and third-party data
to refine contact strategies and build and update the residential address list.

II.

Also consistent with previous decennial censuses, the Census Bureau will utilize federal
and state administrative records to edit or impute invalid, inconsistent, or missing
responses to the decennial census.

III.

The new use of administrative records for the 2020 Census is to use data exclusively
from federal administrative records to improve the accuracy and efficiency of the NRFU
operation by:
a. Reducing follow-up on vacant housing units and nonresidential addresses, as
designated by administrative records.

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 b. Enumerating households that do not self-respond and whom we were unable to
contact after six mailings and one in-person field visit.
For each of the purposes listed in items II, III.a., and III.b., the Census Bureau will use or
plans to use administrative data only when it can confirm empirically across multiple sources
that the data are consistent, of high quality, and can be accurately applied to the addresses and
households in question. The Census Bureau plans to enumerate households utilizing
administrative records only from federal government agencies, such as the IRS. Each of the
nonresponding addresses will be evaluated under a strict set of Census Bureau rules
throughout the process to ensure completeness and accuracy.
Based on the research and tests conducted, the Census Bureau estimates that federal
administrative records will be used to enumerate up to 7.9 million households of the projected
total of approximately 62.9 million addresses that are expected to be in the NRFU workload for
the 2020 Census. These 7.9 million households represent slightly more than 5 percent of the
approximately 147 million addresses in the Census Bureau’s census address file. Where the
Census Bureau does not have confidence in the administrative data, such as when the data are
inconsistent or missing in the federal administrative records, the household will remain in the
NRFU workload for further in-person efforts to collect the information.
(4) Reengineering Field Operations
The final innovation area, “Reengineering Field Operations,” has a goal of using
technology to manage the 2020 Census fieldwork efficiently and effectively, and as a result,
reduce the staffing, infrastructure, and brick and mortar footprint for the 2020 Census. The
Census Bureau plans to provide most listers and enumerators with the capability to work
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 completely remotely and perform all administrative and data collection tasks directly from a
mobile device. Supervisors will also be able to work remotely from the field and communicate
with their staff through these devices. These enhanced capabilities significantly reduce the
number of offices required to support 2020 Census fieldwork. In the 2010 Census, the Census
Bureau established 12 regional census centers and nearly 500 area census offices. The agency
hired more than 516,000 enumerators to conduct NRFU activities. The new design for the 2020
Census field operations includes six regional census centers with 248 area census offices.
In addition, automation enables significant changes to how cases are assigned and the
supervision of field staff. By making it easier for supervisors to monitor and manage their
workers, the ratio of workers to supervisor can be increased, reducing the number of
supervisors required. This streamlines the staffing structure. Other design changes include
optimized case assignment and routing.
All administrative functions associated with most field staff will be automated, including
recruiting, hiring, training, time and attendance, and payroll. Finally, the new capabilities allow
for quality to be infused into the process through alerts to supervisors when there is an
anomaly in an enumerator’s performance and real-time edits on data collection. Accordingly,
the quality assurance process used in the 2010 Census has been reengineered to account for
changes in technology.
Supporting Documents about the 2020 Census Design and the 2020 Census Objectives
The Census Bureau is submitting with this package links to a number of official Census
Bureau documents that provide background on the plans for the 2020 Census. This list includes
in particular the 2020 Census Operational Plan v4.0, which documents at a high level the major
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 findings of the census tests performed this decade. Moreover, the Operational Plan shows the
planned design of the 2020 Census as of October 2018 and identifies design decisions made, as
well as remaining decisions to be made using census test results. Test objectives and high-level
outcomes are discussed in Chapter 4. Key design components for the 2020 Census for every
operation are discussed in Chapter 5. Appendix B of the Operational Plan describes the various
efforts to enumerate the population considered to be Hard-to-Count. This version of the
operational plan is the last version that will be released prior to the 2020 Census. Appendix B of
this document provides a graphic of all the operations included in the 2020 Census organized by
a standard Work Breakdown Structure, as represented in the 2020 Census Operational Plan.
For most of the 2020 Census operations, the Census Bureau is developing a detailed
operational plan to document objectives and procedures of the operation, major tasks involved
in implementation, the overall workflow, and the overall resources required. See Appendix C of
this document for a list of the detailed operational plans completed to date or soon to be
completed and links to these plans within the 2020 Census Memorandum Series.
Only the operations scoped for the 2020 Census that involve direct contact with the
public to collect data, are involved in collecting and processing the collected data, or represent
content that the population will see or experience will be discussed in this document. The
geographic areas discussed below will refer only to the 50 states, the District of Columbia, and
Puerto Rico, unless otherwise noted. The 2020 Census also includes the Island Areas (U.S. Virgin
Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands). The
operational plan and detailed operational plans can be referenced for more details about the
tasks performed in each operation.
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 Documentation about the 2020 Census has been submitted to the Office of
Management and Budget in phases. The first phase entailed approval of only the Address
Canvassing operation and creation of the OMB number for the entire 2020 Census. The results
from Address Canvassing are used to create the address frame for the entire enumeration
phase of the census. As such, this operation occurs earlier than enumeration operations and
requires earlier clearance. OMB concluded on the Address Canvassing submission on November
30, 2018. The second phase of approval encompassed the operations where all enumeration
data are collected and processed. OMB concluded on the second phase – Enumeration
Operations – on July 12, 2019. This third phase of approval encompasses the Evaluations and
Experiments, as well as provides a number of program and operation updates.
Type of Enumeration Areas
Prior to the census, it is necessary to delineate all geographic areas into Type of
Enumeration Areas (TEAs), which describe what methodology will be used for census material
delivery and household enumeration in order to achieve maximum accuracy and completeness
using the most cost-effective enumeration approach. The TEA designations also identify what
methodology will be used for updating the address frame. For the United States and Puerto
Rico, TEAs are delineated at the block level based on the address and spatial data in the
MAF/TIGER database. The MAF/TIGER database does not contain data for the Island Areas, so a
separate TEA is designated for these areas.
The TEAs designated for the 2020 Census are:
* TEA 1 = Self-Response.
* TEA 2 = Update Enumerate.
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 * TEA 3 = Island Areas.
* TEA 4 = Remote Alaska.
* TEA 6 = Update Leave.
The most common enumeration method by percentage of households is self-response
(TEA 1), where materials will be delivered to each address through the mail, and enumeration
data is expected to be returned or submitted by a respondent. Self-response can occur when
households mail back a 2020 Census paper questionnaire, submit the data on the 2020 Census
internet questionnaire, or call the telephone number for Census Questionnaire Assistance and
submit the data during the phone call. After the initial self-response phase, nonresponding
households will be enumerated in the NRFU operation. In Update Enumerate (TEA 2), Census
Bureau enumerators visit an address, update the address list, and attempt household
enumeration at the same time. This TEA will be used for a very small portion of the addresses in
the country, such as those with access problems or minimal mail service. The Island Areas are
not currently included in MAF/TIGER. With no existing address list for these areas, the address
list will be created and enumeration will be attempted at the same time. Remote Alaska uses
the Update Enumerate methodology but in remote areas of Alaska. These areas have unique
challenges associated with the accessibility to communities where the population ranges from
several hundred people to just a few people. Communities are widely scattered and rarely
linked by roads. Most are accessible only by small-engine airplane, snowmobile, four-wheeldrive vehicles, dogsled, or some combination thereof. This operation occurs earlier than other
enumeration operations (starting in January) due to seasonal availability of the population, who
disperse when warmer weather arrives. During Update Leave (TEA 6), Census Bureau visit an
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 address, update the address list, and leave a questionnaire package at each individual housing
unit. The household is expected to return the questionnaire by mail or submit their data online
or by telephone. Puerto Rico is designated as entirely Update Leave in order to create a current
address list at the time of the census, in response to changes that may have occurred due to
recent natural disasters. Nonresponding units in Update Leave areas are included in the NRFU
workload. A map of the areas designated for the various TEAs is shown at the embedded link:
TEA Viewer
Operations that contribute to the respondent experience of the 2020 Census will be
described in detail below. The 2020 Census Operational Plan and detailed operational plans,
available at https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census/2020census/planning-management/memo-series.html, provide additional design details about these
operations.
A.

Content and Forms Design
The Content and Forms Design (CFD) operation is responsible for identifying and

finalizing the content and design of questionnaires and associated nonquestionnaire materials.
To support the 2020 Census, the CFD operation ensures content consistency across data
collection modes and operations, as question wording varies depending on mode of data
collection. The CFD operation is responsible for creating, refining, and finalizing instrument
specifications for all data collection modes—internet, phone, paper, and field enumeration.
This is a significant departure from the 2010 Census, which relied on paper for virtually all data
collection.

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 As required by law (Title 13, United States Code) the subjects planned for the 2020
Census were submitted to Congress on March 28, 2017, and the questions planned for the 2020
Census were submitted to Congress on March 29, 2018. The questions proposed for the 2020
Census questionnaire in the March 29, 2018, submission included age, citizenship, Hispanic
origin, race, relationship, sex and tenure. On June 27, 2019, the Supreme Court ruled in
Department of Commerce v. New York, that the Secretary’s decision to include a citizenship
question on the 2020 Census did not meet Administrative Procedure Act standards for
reasoned decision-making, and remanded the case to the Department for further action. On
July 11, 2019, the President issued an Executive Order that found that the Court’s ruling has
made it impossible, as a practical matter, to include a citizenship question in the 2020 Census.
B.

Language Services
The Language Services operation provides questionnaires and related materials in non-

English materials for respondents of Limited English Proficiency. For the 2020 Census, the
internet instrument and Census Questionnaire Assistance will be available in 13 languages:
Spanish, Chinese, Vietnamese, Korean, Russian, Arabic, Tagalog, Polish, French, Haitian Creole,
Portuguese, and Japanese, in addition to English. The bilingual paper questionnaire,
enumerator instrument, and field enumeration materials will be available in Spanish. In
addition, language guides and language identification cards will be available in the following 59
languages: Albanian, Amharic, Arabic, Armenian, Bengali, Bosnian, Bulgarian, Burmese, Chinese,
Croatian, Czech, Dutch, Farsi, French, German, Gujarati, Greek, Haitian Creole, Hebrew, Hindi,
Hmong, Hungarian, Igbo, Ilocano, Indonesian, Italian, Japanese, Khmer, Korean, Lao, Lithuanian,
Malayalam, Marathi, Navajo, Nepali, Polish, Portuguese, Punjabi, Romanian, Russian, Serbian,
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 Sinhala, Slovak, Somali, Spanish, Swahili, Tagalog, Tamil, Telugu, Thai, Tigrinya, Turkish, Twi,
Ukrainian, Urdu, Vietnamese, Yiddish, and Yoruba.
Languages were selected using American Community Survey data and definition of a
“limited-English-speaking household” to identify the languages used in households where no
member 14 years old and over speaks only English or speaks a language other than English at
home and speaks English “very well.” More details about this process are available at the
following link:
https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial/2020/program-management/memoseries/2020-memo-2018_06.pdf
C.

Address Canvassing
Address Canvassing, as described above, consists of two major components: In-Office

Address Canvassing and In-Field Address Canvassing. In-Office Address Canvassing is the
process of using empirical geographic evidence (e.g., imagery, comparison of the Census
Bureau’s address list to partner-provided lists) to assess the current address list and make
changes where necessary. This component detects and captures areas of change from highquality administrative records and third-party data. Advancements in technology have enabled
continual address and spatial updates to occur throughout the decade as part of the In-Office
Address Canvassing effort.
Areas not resolved by In-Office Address Canvassing become the universe of geographic
areas potentially worked during In-Field Address Canvassing, where some areas are resolved in
other field operations. Only the In-Field component of Address Canvassing involves in-person

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 collection of information from residents at their living quarters. This process and other
significant details are described in the Address Canvassing Detailed Operational Plan.
For In-Field Address Canvassing, an extract of addresses from the MAF is created, and
this address list is verified and updated in the field, as needed. In addition, living quarters are
classified as housing units or group quarters. Group quarters are living quarters where people
who are typically unrelated have group living arrangements and frequently are receiving some
type of service. College/university student housing and nursing/skilled-nursing facilities are
examples of group quarters. Entire households will be enumerated at housing units. Residents
of group quarters will be enumerated individually.
The MAF also has geographic data for transitory locations, which include recreational
vehicle parks, campgrounds, racetracks, circuses, carnivals, marinas, hotels, and motels. People
residing at transitory locations during the census are recorded as living in housing units located
at transitory locations.
During In-Field Address Canvassing, listers knock on doors at every structure in the
assignment in an attempt to locate living quarters and classify each living quarter as a housing
unit, group quarter, or transitory location. If someone answers, the lister will provide a
Confidentiality Notice and ask about the address in order to verify or update the information, as
appropriate. The listers will then ask if there are any additional living quarters in the structure
or on the property. If there are additional living quarters, the listers will collect or update that
information, as appropriate. In addition, there will be a check on the quality of the address
listing work on approximately 10 percent of the housing unit workload. The QC lister (who must
be different from the original person who listed the block) locates and travels to an assignment
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 and compares what is on the ground to the address list. The QC lister will then validate or
update the address list as needed until they complete their QC sample, which includes a sample
of addresses that were deleted by the original lister. In cases where the QC sample fails, the QC
lister will rework the remainder of the block, including all remaining living quarters within the
block or basic collection unit. All listing and listing check work is performed on an automated
instrument.
The results of Address Canvassing are processed with MAF/TIGER and then used as
input into the creation of the census address list for enumeration. This address list, in turn, is
used in conjunction with the TEA delineation to determine which materials should be printed
for use in the operation(s) designated for each area of the country.
Additional details are provided in the 2020 Census Address Canvassing Detailed Operational
Plan.
D.

Forms Printing and Distribution
The Forms Printing and Distribution operation prints and distributes paper forms to

support the 2020 Census mailing strategy and enumeration of the population. The Forms
Printing and Distribution operation is responsible for the printing and distribution of mailed
internet invitations, reminder cards or letters, and questionnaire mail packages where materials
are mailed, in multiple languages as determined by the Language Services operation. The
letters, reminder cards, and questionnaires are delivered according to the mailing contact
strategy, which is part of the Internet Self-Response operation (discussed below).
Every address record will be identified by an assigned ID, which will be printed on
questionnaires and letters and used for tracking responses. Paper questionnaires and responses
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 from field operations will be linked to the ID in data capture. Internet and telephone
respondents will be requested but not required to provide the ID. When an ID is not provided,
the response will be considered a Non-ID response. The Non-ID Processing operation is
discussed below. Questionnaire data captured through paper data capture of mailed forms, as
well as electronic data from internet and telephone responses, will be delivered to the
Response Processing operation. The Paper Data Capture and Response Processing operations
are described below.
E.

Internet Self-Response
The Internet Self-Response (ISR) operation performs the following functions:
•

Maximize online response to the 2020 Census through contact strategies and improved
access for respondents, described below.

•

Collect response data via the internet to reduce paper and the NRFU universe.

Contact Strategies for Mailing Materials
“Contact strategies for mailing materials” refers to attempts by the Census Bureau to
make direct contact with individual households by mail. Types of contact strategies include
invitation letters, postcards, and questionnaires mailed to households.
A primary objective of the 2020 Census is for a majority of self-respondents to complete
their census questionnaire online. An approach called “Internet First,” in which the first mailing
includes an invitation to respond to the census online, has been developed for TEA 1 areas to
encourage respondents to use the internet. Subsequent mailings will be reminders to respond
to the census online, until all remaining nonresponding households in the Internet First areas
receive a paper questionnaire in the fourth mailing. In TEA 1 areas with low internet coverage
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 or connectivity or other characteristics that may make it less likely the respondents will
complete the census questionnaire online, the “Internet Choice” contact strategy will be
designated for use instead. This strategy includes both an invitation to complete the census
online and a paper questionnaire as part of the first mailing. The Census Bureau anticipates that
22 percent of the households in the self-response TEA (1) will receive the Internet Choice
treatment.
In summary, the contact strategies for mailing materials in TEA 1 including mailing date
are outlined in the table below:

* Targeted only to nonrespondents.

Internet Self-Response Instrument
The internet application and all related support systems are designed to handle the
volume of responses that are expected to be received by internet in the 2020 Census. It is
imperative that the application and systems service the scale of the operation in order to
ensure that users do not experience delays while completing the survey or unavailability of the
application. The internet application and other associated systems were developed to adhere

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 to the highest standards of data security in order to ensure that all respondent data are secure
and confidential.
Additional details about this operation are provided in the Internet Self-Response
Detailed Operational Plan.
F.

Census Questionnaire Assistance
The Census Questionnaire Assistance (CQA) operation has three primary functions:
•

Provide questionnaire assistance by answering questions about specific items on the
census questionnaire or other frequently asked questions about the census.

•

Provide an option for respondents to complete a census interview over the telephone.

•

Provide outbound calling in support of Coverage Improvement (discussed in the NRFU
section below).
Respondents using the internet instrument will have the ability to contact CQA by

telephone when web-based self-service help tools cannot answer their questions. Each of the
13 supported languages, including English, will have its own toll-free number for callers. The
CQA toll-free numbers will be provided on mailing materials and on a variety of Integrated
Partnership and Communications materials. Respondents calling the English and Spanish
language lines will initially be presented with a self-service Interactive Voice Response system,
offering an assortment of automated responses to frequently asked questions. At any time,
respondents may opt to transfer to a customer service representative, who is prepared to
further assist and, if desired by the caller, enumerate them. All callers who need assistance in

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 one of the 12 non-English languages will be connected directly to an appropriately skilled
customer service representative fluent in the language, based on the toll-free number called.
Additional details about this operation are provided in the Census Questionnaire
Assistance Detailed Operational Plan.
G.

Update Leave
The Update Leave (UL) operation is designed for areas where the majority of housing

units either do not have mail delivered to the physical location of the housing unit or the mail
delivery information for the housing unit cannot be verified. Designated during TEA delineation
using data present on the MAF/TIGER database, UL can occur in geographic areas that:
•

Do not have city-style addresses, such as 123 Main Street.

•

Do not receive mail through city-style addresses, such as when mail is delivered to a
post office rather than at housing units.

•

Receive mail at post office boxes.

•

Have been affected by major disasters.
The purpose of the UL operation is to update the address and feature data for the area

assigned and to leave an Internet Choice questionnaire package at every housing unit identified
to allow the household to self-respond. Enumerators do not attempt to enumerate the
household in person at this point.
Occupants can respond online, using the ID printed on the questionnaire, or they can fill
out and mail back the paper questionnaire. If they have questions or wish to respond on the
telephone, they can call the CQA number, which is provided in the package.

23

 The UL operation includes mailing a reminder letter and a reminder postcard to
addresses that are capable of receiving mail within the areas designated for UL. These mailed
materials include the ID for the given address and the website address for the household to use
in order to respond online. As in TEA 1, where all materials are mailed to housing units, any
households that do not self-respond will be contacted during the NRFU operation. Finally, the
UL operation performs a check on the quality of the address listing work (quality control [QC])
on approximately 10 percent of the production workload. Similarly to Address Canvassing listing
QC, UL listing QC is a three-phase process. The first two phases check a sample of each
production enumerator’s work, and the third phase is the recanvassing of the entire block or
basic collection unit. The third phase is only conducted if one of the previous phases fails.
During the first phase, the QC enumerator is given a random location at which to start the QC.
The QC enumerator then follows the normal listing rules— list to the right, for example—and
updates the address list for each unit they encounter on-the ground. The listing instrument
instructs them to stop when the sample size, as specified during sampling, is reached. If the
sample passes the first phase, it moves on to the second phase. If the sample fails the first
phase, it moves directly to the third phase.
During the second phase (or delete check), the listing instrument instructs the QC
enumerator to check a sample of deleted units in the block or basic collection unit, if there are
deleted units. If the sample of deleted units is found to have errors, the listing instrument
instructs the QC enumerator to conduct the third phase, and to recanvas the entire basic
collection unit. If the sample passes the delete check, the QC enumerator is finished with the
basic collection unit.
24

 If the QC sample fails to meet data quality standards, the QC enumerator will conduct
the third phase and recanvas the entire basic collection unit. Additional details about this
operation are provided in the Update Leave Detailed Operational Plan.
H.

Update Enumerate
The Update Enumerate (UE) operation is designated for areas where the initial visit

requires enumerating at the living quarters while updating the address list. The majority of the
operation will occur in remote geographic areas that have unique challenges associated with
accessibility. UE can occur in the following geographic areas:
•

Remote Alaska.

•

Areas that were a part of the 2010 Census Remote UE operation, such as northern parts
of Maine and southeast Alaska.

•

Select American Indian areas that request to be enumerated in person during the initial
visit.
Note that the areas included in the 2010 Census Remote Update Enumerate operation

might be delineated into TEA 1 or TEA 6 for the 2020 Census, based on changes in address type
or mailability.
In the UE operation, field staff update the address and feature data and enumerate
respondents in person. The address and feature data are updated on paper address registers
and paper maps. The enumeration is collected on paper questionnaires. Field staff conducting
UE follow a specific contact strategy for the remote locations and conduct any needed followup. The UE operation will promote the quality of the address work and of the enumeration data
by having staff work in pairs and by supervisors reviewing all data collected for completion and
25

 any anomalies. Supervisors will rework an area by recollecting geographic and/or enumeration
data when necessary to improve the quality of the collected data. Rework is expected on no
more than 10 percent of the total workload of cases. Additional details about this operation
are provided in the Update Enumerate Detailed Operational Plan.
I.

Non-ID Processing
For the 2020 Census, respondents will be encouraged, but not required, to use the

Census Bureau’s preassigned ID that was listed on the mailing materials for the living quarters.
Within the internet instrument, and, consequently, within CQA, it will be possible for
respondents to submit their census response without the preassigned ID. Non-ID Processing is
the effort to associate census responses that lack a Census ID with records included on the
Census Bureau’s 2020 Census address frame. This processing can occur through automated or
clerical procedures. With the ISR instrument collecting the response and address data, it will be
possible to perform automated processing to determine whether the address was already
included on the address frame and extracted from the MAF. For those Non-ID responses not
matched during automated processing, a clerical operation will make a further attempt to
match the address to the 2020 Census address frame and validate nonmatching addresses.
Some of the clerical work may require contacting the respondent to help determine a match or
to verify the existence and location of the address; this is known as Non-ID Processing Phone
Followup. Any nonmatching address whose existence and location cannot be verified by the
clerical Non-ID operation will become a Field Verification assignment, handled as a component
of the NRFU operation. Notably, Field Verification is only an address verification effort and does
not include collection of the census questionnaire data.
26

 Additional details about this operation are provided in the Non-ID Processing Detailed
Operational Plan.
J.

Nonresponse Followup
The NRFU operation serves two primary purposes:
•

Determines or resolves housing unit status for addresses included in the NRFU
workload.

•

Enumerates housing units that are determined to have a housing unit status of
occupied.
The NRFU workload is comprised of addresses from a number of sources, including:
o Nonresponding addresses in TEAs 1 and 6.
o Blank mail returns or mail returns otherwise deemed to be insufficient.
o Addresses identified by the spring 2020 USPS Delivery Sequence File and other
special efforts undertaken to identify new housing around the time of the census —
New Construction and Housing Unit Count Review; addresses upheld in the Local
Update of Census Addresses appeals process; and potentially other addresses
determined to require follow-up after the initial enumeration universe is
established.
o Addresses with a vacant status (reported as 0 occupants) from Internet SelfResponse.
o Field Verification cases.
o Coverage Improvement cases.
o Self-Response Quality Assurance cases.
27

 The 2020 Census NRFU operation will be different from the NRFU operation conducted
in the 2010 Census. The Census Bureau will implement a NRFU operational design that utilizes a
combination of the following:
•

Automation to facilitate data collection.

•

Administrative records and third-party data usage to reduce the workload.

•

Reengineering of staffing and management of field operations.

•

A best-time-to-contact model to increase the likelihood of making contact attempts
when an enumerator will find people at home.
After giving the population in the United States and Puerto Rico an opportunity to self-

respond to the 2020 Census, the Census Bureau will use the most cost-effective strategy for
contacting and counting people to ensure an accurate count.
During the NRFU operation, enumerators will visit each housing unit designated for
follow-up and determine whether the unit exists and then the occupancy status of the unit on
April 1, 2020. If the unit exists, they will attempt to complete an interview using an automated
application on a smartphone. The devices will use a secure Census Bureau-provided
enumeration application solution for conducting the NRFU field data collection. Enumeration
data and workload updates will be transmitted between the NRFU instruments and response
processing systems on a regular basis. Data will be encrypted at all times, both at rest and in
transmission. Various techniques will be used during NRFU to make the data collection as
efficient as possible. The number of allowed attempts to contact will be controlled within the
automated instrument, and best-time-to-contact modeling will be used in the creation of the
daily assignments. Every case in the NRFU workload will initially have a maximum of six unique
28

 contact days. (During the Closeout phase of the operation, cases may receive additional
attempts, as necessary, to resolve incomplete cases.) After a third attempt to contact a
household does not yield a respondent, a case will become proxy-eligible. A proxy is a neighbor,
landlord, real estate agent, or other knowledgeable person who can provide information about
the unit and the people who live there. An enumerator should attempt three proxies after each
noninterview for a proxy-eligible case.
In addition to the initial in-person contact attempt, these addresses will also receive a
final mailing that encourages occupants to self-respond to the 2020 Census. If the initial inperson contact attempt is unsuccessful, the Census Bureau will use administrative records for
the unit status or as the household response data when it has high-quality administrative
records from multiple trusted sources. Undeliverable-As-Addressed information from the USPS
will serve as the primary administrative records source for the identification of vacant
addresses and addresses that do not exist. Examples of sources of administrative records used
to enumerate occupied housing units include IRS Individual Tax Returns, IRS Information
Returns, and the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Statistics Medicare Enrollment Database.
Addresses will also be removed from the workload throughout the course of the NRFU
operation as self-responses continue to be received.
Early NRFU
Early NRFU occurs in areas where there are high concentrations of college students
living in off-campus housing who are unlikely to be present during the scheduled dates for
regular NRFU. The enumeration procedures for early NRFU are the same as regular NRFU but
just conducted at an earlier time to accommodate the schedules of select colleges and
29

 universities. Any early NRFU addresses that are unresolved by the start of NRFU will receive
additional field attempts during regular NRFU.
NRFU Reinterview
The NRFU Reinterview program will check the quality of the work done by enumerators
in NRFU. A sample of approximately 5 percent of NRFU interviews will be selected for
verification through NRFU Reinterview. The NRFU Reinterview program involves conducting an
independent field reinterview for selected cases to verify that an enumerator conducted the
interview and followed procedures. The NRFU Reinterview interviewer/enumerator always
attempts to contact the respondent from the original interview, which may be a household
member, neighbor, or some other proxy. If the original respondent confirms that he/she was
contacted and an enumerator conducted the original interview, the NRFU Reinterview
interviewer/enumerator collects roster names and ends the interview. If the respondent was
not contacted or does not know if an enumerator conducted the original interview, the NRFU
Reinterview interviewer/enumerator conducts a full interview with the respondent.
During the early weeks of NRFU, enumerators will conduct interviews with multiunit
structure managers to determine the occupancy status of nonresponding units within the
multiunit structure. This Manager Visit (MV) allows enumerators to identify several units as
vacants or deletes without having to attempt each unit individually. Enumerators have a
maximum of two unique contact days to complete the MV cases. The MV Reinterview program
will check the quality of work done by enumerators during the MV and will target MVs with
high numbers of vacant and delete unit statuses. During the MV Reinterview, the enumerator
will ask to speak to the manager from the original MV interview. If the respondent confirms
30

 that he/she was contacted and an enumerator conducted the original interview, the MV
Reinterview enumerator asks about a subset of the list checked during the MV. If the
respondent was not contacted or does not know if an enumerator conducted the original MV
interview, the MV Reinterview enumerator conducts a full interview and asks about the entire
list during the MV.
The NRFU universe also includes cases from Non-ID Processing that were not able to be
matched to the address frame. As discussed in the Non-ID section, these are Field Verification
(FV) cases, where the enumerators attempt to locate the address in question and collect its
Global Positioning System (GPS) coordinates. A sample of the FV cases is selected for
verification through FV QC. Since FV cases only require an enumerator to determine the
existence of an address and will not require an interview with a respondent, the FV QC program
will consist of an independent check of the production enumerators where the FV QC
enumerator will conduct the same procedures as the FV enumerator. FV cases, along with their
QC component, have a maximum of one field contact day.
Coverage Improvement resolves categories of erroneous enumerations (people counted
in the wrong place or counted more than once) and omissions (people who were missed)
identified through collected enumeration data. Coverage Improvement will attempt to resolve
these issues from both self-response and NRFU responses. All cases that are selected for
Coverage Improvement with a valid phone number will be subject to an interview attempt by a
CQA Customer Service Representative. The workload identified for Coverage Improvement will
be responses where a household enumeration shows a difference between the answer for the
number of people within the household and the number of people enumerated, and answers to
31

 coverage questions in the initial enumeration that reflect potential coverage errors.
Automation and the internet self-response option should reduce the prevalence of these types
of respondent errors as compared to the 2010 Census, which was completed almost entirely on
paper questionnaires.
Self-Response Quality Assurance cases are generated as part of the quality assurance
efforts for self-response. This re-collection of the enumeration data will also be worked within
NRFU.
Additional details about this operation are provided in the Nonresponse Followup
Detailed Operational Plan.
K.

Group Quarters
The 2020 Census Group Quarters (GQ) operation will enumerate people living or

staying in GQs and will provide an opportunity for people experiencing homelessness and
receiving service at a service-based location, such as a soup kitchen, to be counted in the
census. GQs are assigned different categories or type codes, and field procedures sometimes
differ by categories or because of GQ facility privacy concerns. For example, procedures or data
collections for colleges may differ from those for prisons or skilled nursing homes.
The 2020 Census GQ operation consists of the following components:
•

GQ Frame Update.

•

GQ Advance Contact.

•

GQ Enumeration.

•

Service-Based Enumeration.

•

Military Enumeration.
32

 •

Maritime Vessel (Shipboard) Enumeration.

GQ Frame Update
The 2020 Census GQ Frame Update program supports the 2020 Census enumeration
frame development for the 2020 Census Group Quarters Enumeration. Building from the 2010
Census, the GQ frame incorporates updates from the 2020 Census Local Update of Census
Addresses, Address Canvassing, and New Construction operations, as well as the Census
Bureau’s American Community Survey. Local Update of Census Addresses is described in
Federal Register Notice “Local Update of Census Addresses Operation,” November 7, 2016,
(Vol. 81, No. 215, pp 78109-78110, FR Doc. 2016-26778), while New Construction is described
in Federal Register Notice “2020 Census New Construction Program,” October 5, 2018, (Vol. 83,
No. 194, pp 50332-50334, FR Doc. 2018-21698). The Address Canvassing operation is part of
the 2020 Census package.
In addition, the Count Review operation contributes addresses to the frame in advance
of and during the census. This operation does not create burden due to the relationship with
the Federal-State Cooperative for Population Estimates representatives under which these
updates are provided. It is mentioned in order to provide a complete picture of the frame
development and enumeration activities for GQs.
GQ Advance Contact
The GQ Advance Contact has both in-office and in-field activities. The in-office GQ
Advance Contact is an area census office activity through which Census Bureau staff call GQs
identified in prior frame update phases to collect preferred contact dates, times, and methods
of enumeration as well as expected population on Census Day. Census Bureau staff also discuss
33

 any special instructions from the GQ or concerns related to privacy, confidentiality, and
security. For cases that staff are unable to contact or resolve during the in-office advance
contact, field supervisors make an in-field visit to the GQs to collect this data.
GQ Enumeration
The GQ Enumeration will cover all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico.
An additional late GQ enumeration phase allows for the stakeholder identification and
enumeration of group quarters that may have been missed during the earlier time frame. The
primary method of conducting in-person enumeration of people residing in group quarters will
be by using the Individual Census Questionnaire as the paper data collection instrument. Inperson interviewing is planned for all group quarter types that are part of the field enumeration
workload. A follow-up to ensure quality of enumerations is conducted. Area census office
management staff assign cases selected for reinterview to clerks. The clerks use a reinterview
form for each case in their reinterview and telephone each GQ to confirm that the enumerator
visited the correct facility at the correct address. The reinterview also determines if the
enumerator obtained a population count within a pre-defined acceptable range of the count
provided by the GQ contact during the reinterview.
Reinterview responses are then compared to the initial responses. If a response is
satisfactory, no further work is required. If a response is unsatisfactory, management will
conduct an investigation into the cause. Some outcomes may result in additional data
collection. If errors occurred or if falsification by the enumerator occurred, the case may be
sent out for rework. Also, if falsification occurred, all cases worked by that enumerator will be
reinterviewed.
34

 GQ Enumeration— eResponse Data Transfer
The GQ eResponse leverages electronic data transfers from GQ administrators to the
Census Bureau. Client-level data from systems maintained by GQ administrators will be
transferred to a standardized Census Bureau secured system that will accept electronically
submitted data in a standardized template. These data will be accepted in lieu of use of the
Individual Census Questionnaire if data are deemed to be of sufficiently high quality and
completeness.
Domestic Violence Shelters
Domestic violence shelters are facilities for those seeking safety from domestic violence.
Domestic violence shelters are enumerated using special procedures and specially trained
personnel. These special procedures include inviting members of the National Coalition Against
Domestic Violence state coalitions to participate in the 2020 Census Group Quarters Frame
Update Program to create a comprehensive and current address listing for domestic violence
shelters. In order to protect the integrity of these locations, it will be necessary to have
individuals designated to be the recipient of this information and to personally implement the
procedures. Due to the sensitive nature of these places, the Census Bureau has assured the
service providers that we will not disclose name, address, or any other type of information
about the facility or the persons staying there to anyone other than on a “need to know” basis.
These special procedures are designed to protect the safety and security of respondents being
enumerated at these locations.
Service-Based Enumeration

35

 The Service-Based Enumeration is specifically designed to approach people using service
facilities because they may be missed during the traditional enumeration at housing units and
group quarters. These service locations and outdoor locations include the following:
•

Shelters: shelters with sleeping facilities for people experiencing homelessness; shelters
for children who are runaways, neglected, or experiencing homelessness.

•

Soup kitchens.

•

Regularly scheduled mobile food vans: stops where regularly scheduled mobile food
vans distribute meals.

•

Targeted non-sheltered outdoor locations.
For the 2020 Census, the Service-Based Enumeration operation will be conducted over

the three-day period that ends on April 1, 2020, Census Day. Service providers for shelters,
soup kitchens, and regularly scheduled mobile food vans will be given the flexibility for their
facility to be enumerated on any one of the three days. Targeted non-sheltered outdoor
locations will be enumerated April 1, 2020. Field partnership specialists with local knowledge
will help to identify non-sheltered outdoor locations during the time of the census.
Military Enumeration
Military installations are fenced, secured areas used for military purposes that include
living quarters such as housing units and group quarters for military, civilian, and nonDepartment of Defense-affiliated personnel. Residents living in housing units on military
installations will have the opportunity to respond to the census through the internet or by mail
or telephone (just like residents who do not live on installations). The enumeration
methodology at all military GQs (barracks, military treatment facilities with assigned patients,
36

 military disciplinary barracks and jails, and military vessels) will be implemented under the GQ
operation. Residents living in GQs will be enumerated during the GQ enumeration, using the
same set of enumeration options.
Maritime/Military Vessel Enumeration
A maritime vessel is defined as a United States-flagged vessel with people who live or
stay aboard for extended periods of time and sail from or to a United States port. A military
vessel is defined as a United States Navy or United States Coast Guard vessel assigned to a
home port in the United States. Maritime and Military Vessel Enumeration is a mailoutmailback operation to enumerate people who live or stay aboard and will not have any other
opportunity to respond in time to be included in the 2020 Census. The response burden for
military installations and maritime and military vessels is included in the GQ enumeration
count.
L.

Enumeration at Transitory Locations
The goal of the 2020 Census Enumeration at Transitory Locations (ETL) operation is to

enumerate individuals in occupied units at transitory locations (TLs) who do not have a Usual
Home Elsewhere. A TL is a location that is composed of living quarters where people are
unlikely to live year-round, due to the transitory/temporary/impermanent nature of these
living quarters. Transitory locations include recreational vehicle parks, campgrounds,
racetracks, circuses, carnivals, marinas, hotels, and motels.
The 2020 Census ETL operation consists of the following components:
•

TL Frame Update.

•

TL Advance Contact.
37

 •

Enumeration.

TL Frame Update
The 2020 Census TL Frame Update is being implemented to ensure that the 2020 Census
enumeration frame is complete and to provide an opportunity for enumeration of people
residing at transitory locations. Building from the 2010 Census, the TL frame incorporates
updates from the Local Update of Census Addresses, Address Canvassing, and New
Construction operations. The design of the program ensures that the 2020 Census enumeration
frame is updated by using specialized procedures to update the addresses for the following
types of locations:
•

Carnival, circus, and fair locations.

•

Hotels and motels.
Carnival and circus research is a telephone solicitation of carnival and circus operators.

Scheduled dates and corresponding addresses for shows that will occur during ETL enumeration
are collected. In addition, hotel and motel research is a telephone solicitation of hotels/motels
to inquire if a hotel or motel has any rooms occupied by people who live or stay there most of
the time or if that hotel/motel is used entirely to house people experiencing homelessness.
TL Advance Contact
The TL Advance Contact has both in-office and in-field activities. The in-office TL
Advance Contact is an area census office activity in which TLs identified in frame update steps
are called on the telephone. Address verification, TL type, number of spaces or units at the TL,
and other advance information to support the ETL operation in the field are collected. For cases

38

 that staff are unable to contact or resolve during the in-office advance contact, field supervisors
make an in-field visit to the GQs to collect this data.
TL Enumeration
The 2020 Census ETL operation will cover all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and
Puerto Rico. Enumerators will canvass a TL in one visit to enumerate at occupied transitory
units. Respondents at a TL who do not have a usual home elsewhere are counted where they
are enumerated in ETL.
M.

Paper Data Capture
The Paper Data Capture operation scans and converts data from 2020 Census paper

questionnaires. Core sources for the Paper Data Capture operation include housing unit selfresponse questionnaires mailed back by respondents and Group Quarters Individual Census
Reports. The Census Bureau’s in-house Integrated Computer Assisted Data Entry system is used
to capture paper responses from questionnaires. Each write-in and checkbox data field is datacaptured, and Optical Character Recognition and Optical Mark Recognition are performed. If
Key From Image is needed for forms that cannot be processed through Optical Character
Recognition or Optical Mark Recognition, staff are presented the image of the page and are
able to key, clarify, correct, and add to what was captured. The Census Bureau maintains the
data, images of the forms, and the paper forms themselves until confirmation that the data
have been correctly captured, at which point the paper forms are sent to destruction while the
data and images are retained. The Census Bureau maintains the images for archiving purposes
until such time as the National Archiving and Records Administration takes possession of the
images for permanent archiving.
39

 Additional details about this operation are provided in the Paper Data Capture Detailed
Operational Plan.
N.

Response Processing
The Response Processing Operation (RPO) supports the three major components of the

2020 Census: pre-data collection activities, data collection activities, and post-data collection
activities. Specifically, the operation supports the following activities:
Pre-data collection
•

Create and distribute the initial 2020 Census enumeration universe of living quarters.

•

Assign the specific enumeration strategy for each living quarter based on case status
and associated paradata.

Data collection
•

Create and distribute workload files required for enumeration operations.

•

Track case enumeration status.

•

Check for suspicious returns.

Post-data collection
•

Run post-data collection processing actions in preparation for producing the final 2020
Census results.
Additional details about this operation are provided in the Response Processing

Operation Detailed Operational Plan.
O.

Redistricting Data Program
The purpose of the 2020 Census Redistricting Data Program (RDP) is to provide to each

state the legally-required redistricting data tabulations by the mandated deadline of April 1,
40

 2021. Pursuant to Title 13, U.S.C., Section 141, the Census Bureau has worked with “the officers
or public bodies having initial responsibility for the legislative apportionment of each state,” to
solicit feedback on the content of the prototype redistricting data file. On March 29, 2019 the
Census Bureau published the prototype of the redistricting files based on the test enumeration
of Providence County, Rhode Island. With no stakeholders requesting citizenship data on the
2020 Census P.L. 94-171 Redistricting Data File, the Census Bureau will proceed with the
prototype file design as the design for the 2020 Census. The citizenship data will still be
published, at the block level and prior to the April 1, 2021 deadline. The Census Bureau will also
tabulate housing unit counts by occupancy status (occupied or vacant) and provide total
population counts for group quarters by group quarters type. For the prototype and for the
2020 Census Redistricting Data Files, the Census Bureau will provide these tabulations for a
variety of standard census geographic areas including state, county, place, tract, and tabulation
block. If states provide their congressional, legislative, and voting district boundaries through
the Redistricting Data Program, the Census Bureau will also provide the tabulations for these
areas. Tabulations by congressional, legislative, and voting districts will be available for the 50
states; equivalent tabulations will be available for the District of Columbia and the
Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.
This program has a separate OMB clearance number. There is more detail about this
program in Federal Register Notice “Redistricting Data Program,” July 26, 2018 (Vol. 83, No.
144, pp. 35458-35460. FR Doc No. 2018-15972) and the Redistricting Data Program Detailed
Operational Plan.

41

 P.

Data Products and Dissemination
The Data Products and Dissemination (DPD) operation performs three primary functions:
•

Prepare and deliver the 2020 Census apportionment data for the President of the
United States to provide to Congress by December 31, 2020.

•

Tabulate 2020 Census data products for use by the states for redistricting.

•

Tabulate and disseminate 2020 Census data for use by the public.
The DPD operation produces information required by Public Law to satisfy

apportionment and redistricting requirements. Title 13, U.S. Code (U.S.C.) requires that the
apportionment population counts be delivered to the Office of the President within nine
months of the census date. Apportionment counts are based on the Census Unedited File, the
Federally Affiliated Overseas Personnel and Dependents Count File, and a geographic file of
state changes. For the 2020 Census, the census date is April 1, 2020, and the President will
receive the counts by December 31, 2020.
The DPD operation is also responsible for the production and dissemination of many
data products, including national and state summary files, tabulated informational files, and
data comparison tables. This includes electronic and printed products that cover population
and housing unit tabulations, geographical maps, and products specific to the Island Areas (U.S.
Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana
Islands).
The Center for Enterprise Dissemination Services and Consumer Innovation initiative is
responsible for developing enterprise dissemination requirements. DPD is conducting a
42

 thorough review of the past product design (cross-tabulations and iterations of characteristics),
while also looking to ensure that users can find data after the 2020 Census quickly and easily.
The Census Bureau will undertake a thorough analysis of the proposed 2020 Census data
products in keeping with our sworn obligation to protect respondents’ data as data stewards
under Title 13. Federal Register Notice “Soliciting Feedback from Users on 2020 Census Data
Products,” July 19, 2018 (Vol. 83, pp. 34111 - 34112, FR Doc No. 2018-15458) was published
with a 60-day comment period. It requested feedback from users on specific tables and
geographic detail for decennial census products such as Summary File 1, Summary File 2, and
the Demographic Profile. The last day to provide comment on the notice was September 17,
2018. Subsequently, this notice was reopened for an additional 30-day comment period on
October 9, 2018 (Vol. 83, p. 50636, FR Doc No. 2018-21837). The last day to provide comments
on this notice was November 8, 2018. The final suite of 2020 Census data products is under
development.
Additional details about this operation are provided in the Data Products and
Dissemination Detailed Operational Plan.
Q.

Archiving
The Archiving (ARC) operation performs the following functions:
•

Coordinate storage of the materials and data and provide records deemed permanent
as the official data of the 2020 Census, including files containing the individual
responses, as well as names and addresses, to the 2020 Census, to the National Archives
and Records Administration (NARA).

43

 •

Provide similar files to the Census Bureau’s National Processing Center in Indiana to use
as source materials to conduct the Age Search Service, which provides, upon request,
transcripts of personal data from historical population census records. (OMB Control
#0607-0117)

•

Store data to cover in-house needs.
Additional details about this operation are provided in the Archiving Detailed

Operational Plan.
R.

Federally Affiliated Count Overseas
The Federally Affiliated Count Overseas operation obtains counts by home state of

United States military and federal civilian employees who are stationed or assigned overseas
and their dependents living with them. For the 2020 Census, overseas is defined as anywhere
outside the 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the Island Areas: American
Samoa, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, and the United States Virgin
Islands. Counts are submitted from Federal agencies and the Department of Defense (Defense
Manpower Data Center) through a Census Bureau secure server and are used to allocate the
federally affiliated population living overseas to their home state for the purposes of
apportioning seats in the U.S. House of Representatives. If military and federal civilian
employees of the U.S. government are deployed overseas while stationed or assigned within
the U.S., they are counted at their U.S. residence where they live or sleep most of the time
using administrative data provided by Federal agencies and the Department of Defense. See
Section K for more info on how we count stateside military personnel.

44

 Residence Criteria and Residence Situations for the 2020 Census are described in
Federal Register Notice 83 FR 5525, which has been included with the materials in this package.
S.

Island Areas Censuses
The purpose of the Island Areas Censuses (IAC) operation is to enumerate all residents

of American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI), Guam, and
the U.S. Virgin Islands; process and tabulate the collected data; and disseminate data products
to the public. All data collection activities for the IAC will rely on the use of paper
questionnaires, paper maps, and paper address registers to record the physical addresses of
housing units and group quarters. The IAC questionnaire will leverage the American Community
Survey questionnaire with minor wording changes in order to take into account the Island Areas
local governments’ concerns, where possible. A supplemental document “2020 Island Areas
Census Questionnaire Content” submitted with this package describes the development of the
questionnaires. Subsequent to the creation of this document, the Executive Order On Collecting
Information About Citizenship Status In Connection with the Decennial Census was produced.
As a cautionary matter following litigation in NY v. Commerce, the citizenship question has
since been removed from the Island Areas Censuses questionnaires.
Enumerators will list the addresses using paper address registers. Once the addresses
have been listed, enumerators will visit every living quarter to conduct interviews with
household members and follow up as necessary. The IAC will perform a clerical review of all
completed questionnaires for completeness and data consistency, reinterview for a sample of
questionnaires, and an independent address check. The response data will be processed
through the Decennial Response Processing System. Data products will include counts of the
45

 population and housing units, data profiles, subject tables, and supplemental tables. These
products will use the same enhanced disclosure avoidance methods that are used in the
American Community Survey. These methods differ from the approach currently being rolled
out to data users regarding differential privacy for the 2020 Census.
Additional information about the development of the Island Areas Censuses
questionnaire is provided as a supplemental document. Additional details about this operation
are provided in the Island Areas Censuses Detailed Operational Plan.
T.

Evaluations and Experiments
For the 2020 Census, operational assessments, quality profiles, evaluations, and

experiments are all produced within the Evaluations and Experiments operation. Operational
Assessments are designed to document final volumes, rates, and costs for individual operations
or processes using data from production files and activities and information collected from
debriefings and lessons learned. They do not include analysis. Operational assessments report
out on planned versus actual variances as it relates to budget, schedule, and workloads
(production and training), and on meeting performance success criteria. Depending on the
operation, they may include frequency distributions and standard demographic or address
tables. Quality profiles are designed to provide the results from the quality assurance program
for an operation. No additional data collection is required for the purpose of creating the
operational assessments or the quality profiles. They are described here for the purpose of
providing the complete scope of the Evaluations and Experiments operation.
The evaluations and experiments performed during a census represent the initial plans
for updating and improving the subsequent census. While testing continues throughout the
46

 decade, certain aspects can only be tested within a decennial census environment, as public
awareness of the census and of the responsibility to respond is often a key factor of the test.
Evaluations are designed to analyze, interpret, and synthesize the effectiveness and efficiencies
of census components and their impact on data quality and coverage using data collected from
census operations, processes, systems, and auxiliary data collections. Experiments provide
quantitative or qualitative results for tests that occur during a decennial census. Since they
occur in an environment of optimal census awareness, results simulate more closely what
experimental treatments would yield in a full production application. Experiments inform
planning of future decennial censuses, so 2020 Census experiments will focus on planning
toward a 2030 Census.
The evaluations and experiments for the 2020 Census are described either as a revision
to this package, to the Census Bureau’s Post-Enumeration Survey Independent Listing OMB
package (OMB approval #0607-1009), or within the Generic Clearance for Census Bureau Field
Tests and Evaluations, covered under OMB approval #0607-0971. For the purposes of fully
defining the Evaluations and Experiments operation, specific assessments, evaluations, and
experiments planned for the 2020 Census are documented in the table below. The evaluations
and experiments included in other OMB approval packages are shown in italics and noted in the
footnotes to the table.
2020 Census Operational Assessments
Archiving Operational Assessment
Census Questionnaire Assistance Operational Assessment
Content and Forms Design Operational Assessment

47

 Coverage Improvement Operational Assessment
Count Question Resolution Operational Assessment
Decennial Logistics Management - Logistics Management Support Operational Assessment
Decennial Logistics Management - Space Acquisition and Lease Management Operational Assessment
Decennial Service Center Operational Assessment
Demographic Analysis Operational Assessment
Enumeration at Transitory Locations Advance Contact Operational Assessment
Enumeration at Transitory Locations Operational Assessment
Evaluations and Experiments Operational Assessment
Federally Affiliated Count Overseas Operational Assessment
Field Infrastructure – Field Office Administration and Payroll Operational Assessment
Field Infrastructure – Recruiting, Onboarding, and Training Operational Assessment
Forms Printing and Distribution Operational Assessment
Geographic Partnership Programs Operational Assessment
Group Quarters Advance Contact Assessment Report
Group Quarters Enumeration and Military Enumerations Assessment
In-Field Address Canvassing Operational Assessment
In-Office Address Canvassing Operational Assessment
Internet Self-Response Operational Assessment
Integrated Partnership and Communications Contract Assessment
Integrated Partnership and Communications Operational Assessment
Island Areas Censuses Operational Assessment
Item Nonresponse Rates Assessment Study
Language Services Operational Assessment
Local Update of Census Addresses Operational Assessment

48

 Maritime Vessel Enumeration Report
New Construction Operational Assessment
Non-ID Operational Assessment
Nonresponse Followup Operational Assessment
Paper Data Capture Operational Assessment
Post-Enumeration Survey Sampling and Estimation Operational Assessment
Post-Enumeration Survey Field Operations Initial Listing and Initial Housing Unit Followup Operational Assessment
Post-Enumeration Survey Field Operations Person Interview and Person Followup Operational Assessment
Post-Enumeration Survey Field Operations Final Housing Unit Followup Operational Assessment
Post-Enumeration Survey Matching Initial Housing Unit Matching Operational Assessment
Post-Enumeration Survey Matching Person Matching Operational Assessment
Post-Enumeration Survey Matching Final Housing Unit Matching Operational Assessment
Redistricting Data Program Operational Assessment
Research to Support the Integrated Partnership and Communications Program
Response Processing Operational Assessment
Response Rates Assessment Study
Self-Response Quality Assurance Operational Assessment
Service-Based Enumeration Assessment Report
Systems and Applications in the 2020 Census (Security, Privacy, and Confidentiality)
Update Enumerate Operational Assessment
Update Leave Operational Assessment

2020 Census Quality Control
Quality Control Study Plan for Listing Operations
Quality Control Study Plan for Enumeration Operations
Address Canvassing QC Results
Update Leave QC Results

49

 Nonresponse Followup QC Results
Person Interview QC Results
Independent Listing QC Results

2020 Census Evaluations and Experiments

Additional Data
Collected

Evaluations

Reengineered Address Canvassing
•

Estimate certain types of errors that can occur during In-Field Address
Canvassing. Investigate effectiveness of In-Office Address Canvassing and
Interactive Review. Compare costs of reengineered Address Canvassing to 100
percent In-Field Address Canvassing.

•

Evaluate In-Field Address Canvassing listing by including false addresses (salting)
and suppressing a sample of valid addresses.

•

Evaluate In-Office and In-Field Address Canvassing using Post-Enumeration
Survey listing results.1

Administrative Record Dual-System Estimation

Salted and suppressed
addresses within Address
Canvassing: same burden
because listers should delete
incorrect addresses and add
missing addresses.

None

Determine whether dual system estimates could be generated without conducting an
independent post-enumeration survey, using Administrative Records.

Evaluating Privacy and Confidentiality Concerns of Complete and Partial
Respondents by Mode2

Capture respondents’ concerns about privacy and confidentiality during the census,
particularly with respect to the internet response option.

The Undercount of Young Children: A Qualitative Evaluation of Census Materials
and Operations
Conduct focus groups and cognitive interviews to identify where existing roster questions
and procedures are failing and how to improve them.

Research on Hard to Count Populations: Non-English Speakers and Complex
Household Residents, including Undercount of Children Research2

Assess NRFU interviews in areas associated with potential undercoverage and non-English
speaking households.

Analysis of Census Internet Self-Response Paradata by Language
Examine 2020 Census web paradata and assess by language.

Group Quarters Advance Contact: Refining Classification of College or University
Student Housing

NA

None

NA

None
None

Explore whether refined classification used in 2020 Census results in more accurately
identifying privately owned college housing.

Experiments

Extending the Census Environment to the Mailing Materials
Test effect on self-response rates of wearable, nonmonetary mailing inserts that promote
2020 Census as well as mailing materials that incorporate elements and images developed
by the 2020 Census communications campaign. In addition, testing the use of an every
door direct mail piece.

50

None

 Optimization of Self-Response in the 2020 Census Experiment
Evaluate impacts of the mailing strategy and the influence of the internet response option
by 1) mailing a sample of housing units a modified version of 2010 Census materials with no
promotion of the internet response option, 2) switching the planned mail contact strategy
between internet choice and internet first for another sample of housing units. In addition,
to test the effectiveness of communications and partnership activities, test not mailing any
census materials to a sample of households.

Real-Time 2020 Census Administrative Record Census Simulation

None

None

Compare person-level, housing unit-level, and hybrid approaches to conducting an
administrative record census.
1. 2020 Census Post-Enumeration Survey Independent Listing Operation (OMB approval #0607-1009)
2. Generic Clearance for Census Bureau Field Tests and Evaluations (OMB approval #0607-0971)

2.

Needs and Uses
The decennial census is mandated by Article 1, Section 2 of the U.S. Constitution. Title

13, United States Code (U.S.C), Section 141 directs the Secretary to take a decennial census of
population and housing, determining its form and content, and further authorizes the collection
of such other census information in relation to the decennial census, as necessary. These
authorities are delegated to the Director of the Census Bureau under Department of Commerce
Organization Order 35-2A. The Census Bureau is required to conduct the 2020 Census to collect
the person and housing data that will be used for reapportionment, redistricting, and various
statistical data products, under Title 13, U.S.C. Additionally, the Census Bureau is authorized
under Title 13, Section 193 to conduct surveys and collect information before, during, and after
the decennial census to assist in the conduct of the decennial census.
Information Quality
Information quality is an integral part of the predissemination review of the data
collected and released by the Census Bureau (fully described in the Census Bureau’s
Information Quality Guidelines at
https://www.census.gov/about/policies/quality/guidelines.html). Information quality is also
51

 integral to the data collections conducted by the Census Bureau and is incorporated into the
clearance process, and this document, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act.
3.

Use of Information Technology
As described in the operation sections above, the 2020 Census will use Information

Technology and automation in a wide variety of ways throughout data collection operations,
particularly in data collection and in management of field operations.
The In-Field Address Canvassing operation is fully automated. In addition, the In-Office
Address Canvassing used electronic imagery and other software for updating the MAF/TIGER
system and identifying the areas where In-Field Address Canvassing was needed. Additional
computerized files and IT processes, such as the Geographic Update Partnership Software, were
used for updating the MAF/TIGER system through geographic partnerships, as well as data from
the United States Postal Service.
The enumeration phase of the 2020 Census will use the internet, telephone centers, and
data collection software residing on electronic devices to interact with respondents. In the 2010
Census, enumeration was almost entirely on paper. Callers to the 2010 Census Telephone
Questionnaire Assistance could be enumerated over the phone if they requested to be.
Respondents in TEAs 1 and 6 will initially have the option to respond to this census using the
internet on various devices (e.g. computers, tablets, smartphones), by mailed paper
questionnaires, or on the telephone through CQA. In addition, the NRFU operation will be
performed with enumerators using an automated application on a smartphone.

52

 The 2020 Census is heavily dependent on specific information technology systems to
administer and manage training, manage workloads, route field workers, alert supervisors of
potential problems, create management reports, and process responses.
4.

Efforts to Identify Duplication
The collection of decennial census data is mandated by Article 1, Section 2 of the U.S.

Constitution and Title 13, U.S. Code, Section 141. No other organization performs this specific
activity. The decennial census is the only source of the data used for reapportionment and
redistricting. There is no program, operation, or activity that duplicates the scope and uses of
decennial census data, as laid out in Section 2, Needs and Uses.
5.

Minimizing Burden
Burden within Address Canvassing is minimized through the use of In-Office Address

Canvassing, thereby reducing the workload for In-Field Address Canvassing, and thus the
collection of new information from respondents.
Burden within enumeration operations is minimized by asking only questions that are
required, by testing the questions and the questionnaire design prior to their implementation in
the census, and by using automation whenever possible to improve data collection and
response processing efficiency.
The collection of data is only for households and individuals and should have no effect
on small businesses.
6.

Consequences of Less Frequent Collection
Frequency cannot be decreased, as the 2020 Census is a legally mandated data

collection activity that must occur every 10 years.
53

 7.

Special Circumstances
No special circumstances exist.

8.

Consultations Outside the Agency
In developing the design of this census, the Census Bureau consulted with a variety of

stakeholders, including, but not limited to, academics, national researchers, community and
organizational leaders, the Congress (particularly through its authorizing and appropriations
committees), and the Census Bureau’s advisory committees, in particular, the National Advisory
Committee and the Census Scientific Advisory Committee. In addition, external consultants
from the National Academy of Sciences provided regular feedback that contributed to research
objectives and the ultimate design plans. Between December 2012 and February 2019, the
Census Bureau held quarterly Program Management Reviews to provide updates on the status
of operations and programs. These were attended by members of oversight organizations and
the National Academy of Sciences. The programs were also streamed live on the internet to
allow maximum exposure and awareness of plans by all stakeholders for the 2020 Census.
Findings and recommendations from over a dozen audits each, covering a variety of
operations and program management activities, by the Government Accountability Office and
the Department of Commerce’s Office of Inspector General were also factored into planning.
The notice for public comment, titled, “2020 Census,” was published in the Federal
Register June 8, 2018 (Vol. 83, No. 111, pp. 26643-26653, FR Doc No. 2018-12365).
The Census Bureau received 147,831 documents with comments. Some comments were
received through multiple means, and thus were duplicates. Some comments represented
multiple organizations, respondents, or signers. In addition, some organizations joined in
54

 different configurations to submit different sets of comments related to the areas of interest to
the organizations. In addition, some commenters had comments on multiple topics. There was
a total of 148,443 comments. Totals shown reflect only received comments within documents,
not the number of signers or organizations.
Of the total number of comments, 137,695 were related to the reinstatement of the
citizenship question; 136,216 comments expressed opposition the question, 238 comments
were less specific but were presumed to oppose the citizenship question, and 1,241 were for or
presumed to favor the citizenship question. The Census Bureau response to these comments
follows:
While the Census Bureau appreciated the comments on the decision to reinstate the
citizenship question to the decennial census, the citizenship question is no longer included on
the 2020 Census questionnaire.
Other comments and responses are provided or summarized in a separate document
that is included with the request to OMB.
The Federal Register Notice that accompanied the OMB submission for the Enumeration
operations revision (Vol. 84, No. 30, pp. 3748-3757, FR Doc No: 2019-02223) resulted in 23,785
comments, of which 23,766 were related in whole or in part to the citizenship question, which
is addressed above. Most other comments were on similar topics to those for which the
response was provided with the request to OMB. Two comments were not addressed in prior
responses. The first comment expressed concern over the reduction of roster space on the
2020 Census [paper] questionnaire. In the 2010 Census, the census questionnaire provided
space for the enumeration of 12 people. The 2020 Census roster provides room for 10 people.
55

 The Census Bureau response is that roster space is limited only on paper forms used in the SelfResponse and Update Leave areas. Households with more than 10 people can avail themselves
of responding by telephone or internet (or wait for a NRFU interviewer), if they need to address
this concern.
The second comment was a request for clarification of whether and when partially
completed responses would be accepted. The Census Bureau response is:
We encourage everyone to answer the census truthfully, providing as much information
as they have on everyone living at their address. As in past censuses, the Census Bureau has
criteria for determining whether a response has sufficient information to be included in the
census. These criteria are sensitive and cannot be revealed to the public or even other Census
Bureau employees who do not have an operational need to know.
9.

Paying Respondents
Respondents to the 2020 Census will not receive any form of compensation for their

participation.
10.

Assurance of Confidentiality
The Census Bureau will conduct the 2020 Census under the authority of Title 13 United

States Code, Sections 141, 191, and 193. All respondents who participate in the 2020 Census
will be informed that the information they provide is confidential under that law and that the
same law makes participation mandatory. All collected information that identifies individuals
will be held in strict confidence under the provisions of Title 13 United States Code, Sections 9
and 214.
The following appears on the Confidentiality Notice that is provided to all households:
56

 The U.S. Census Bureau is required by law to protect this information (Title 13, U.S. Code, Section 9). The
Census Bureau is not permitted to publicly release your responses in a way that could identify anyone.
We are conducting the 2020 Census under the authority of Title 13, U.S. Code, Sections 141, 193, 221
and 223. By law, the Census Bureau can only use responses to produce statistics. Per the Federal
Cybersecurity Enhancement Act of 2015, data are protected from cybersecurity risks through screening
of the systems that transmit data.

Title 13 of the U.S. Code protects the confidentiality of all this information. Violating the confidentiality
of a respondent is a federal crime with serious penalties, including a federal prison sentence of up to
five years, a fine of up to $250,000, or both. Only authorized individuals have access to the stored data,
and the information provided to the Census Bureau may only be used by a restricted number of
authorized individuals who are sworn for life to protect the confidentiality of individual responses.
For more information about how we protect this information, please visit our Web site at census.gov
and click on "Data Protection and Privacy Policy" at the bottom of the home page. This page also
includes information about the collection, storage, and use of these records. Click on "System of Records
Notices (SORN)" and look for Privacy Act System of Records Notice COMMERCE/CENSUS-5, Decennial
Census Program.

11.

Justification for Sensitive Questions
The questions in the 2020 Census include age, Hispanic origin, race, relationship, sex,

and tenure. A number of these questions could be considered sensitive by some people.
The Census Bureau collects racial and ethnic data in accordance with the 1997 OMB
standards on race and ethnicity. Information on race and Hispanic origin is required for many
federal programs and is critical in making policy decisions, particularly for civil rights. States use
57

 these data to meet legislative redistricting principles. Racial and ethnic statistics are used in
planning and evaluating government programs and policies to ensure they fairly serve the
needs of each community and to monitor against discrimination in these programs and in
society. Race and Hispanic origin data are also used to promote equal employment
opportunities and to assess racial and ethnic disparities in health and environmental risks.
The Census Bureau collects relationship data, the relationship of each person in a
household to the householder, in order to produce data about families, households, and other
groups, and to present other data at a household level. Expanded relationship categories are
designed to produce accurate data about households, including coupled households.
Relationship data are used in planning and funding government programs that provide funds or
services for families, people living or raising children alone, grandparents living with
grandchildren, or other households that qualify for additional assistance.
12.

Estimate of Hour Burden
The table below consolidates all planned data collection operations and suboperations

for an estimate of the total number of respondents, the estimated time for response, and the
total burden hour estimate for each specific data collection. The total burden requested for the
2020 Census is the sum of the individual burden hour estimates. This table includes the
information known at the time of submission of this document and will be updated in future
revisions and updates to account for updated figures that result from continued testing
outcomes and other program updates.

58

 Operation or Category

2020 Census
Estimated Number
of Respondents

Estimated Time Total Burden
per Response
Hours
(in minutes)
Address Canvassing
15,786,734
5
1,315,561
Address Canvassing Listing QC
1,578,673
5
131,556
Address Canvassing Subtotal
17,365,407
1,447,117
Geographic Areas Focused on Self-Response (this includes Mailout and Update Leave)
87,774,467
10
14,629,078
Internet/Telephone/Paper
Optimization of Self-Response
Experiment
Extending the Decennial Census
Environment to the Mailing Materials
Update Leave
Update Leave QC
Nonresponse Followup
Nonresponse Followup Reinterview
Self-Response Quality Assurance
Field Verification
Field Verification QC
Coverage Improvement
Non-ID Processing Phone Followup

118,541

10

19,757

172,992

10

28,832

6,600,000
660,000
62,934,000
3,146,700
250,000
400,000
40,000
3,200,000
750,000

5
5
10
5
10
2
2
7
5

550,000
55,000
10,489,000
262,225
41,667
13,333
1,333
373,333
62,500

35,000
3,500
1,750

12
5
10

Self-Response Areas Subtotal
166,046,700
Geographic Area Focused on Update Enumerate (including Remote Alaska)
Update Enumerate Production
Update Enumerate Listing QC
Update Enumerate Reinterview

Update Enumerate Subtotal
Group Quarters

40,250

Domestic Violence Shelter address
collection
GQ Advance Contact (facility)
GQ Enumeration – eResponse (facility)
GQ Enumeration – person contact
Service-Based Enumeration
Group Quarters QC
Domestic Violence Shelter Enumeration
Military Enumeration
Maritime and Military Vessel
Enumeration

Group Quarters Subtotal

59

26,526,058
7,000
292
292

7,584

57

20

19

297,000
14,300
8,000,000

10
20
5

49,500
4,767
666,667

800,000
8,500

5
5

66,667
708

0*

0

0*
0*

0
0

9,119,857

788,328

 Carnivals/Circuses address collection
Hotels/Motels address collection

Enumeration at Transitory Locations –
Advance Contact
Enumeration at Transitory Locations –
Units
Federally Affiliated Count Overseas
Island Areas Censuses – Housing Units
Island Areas Censuses – Group
Quarters
Totals
* Included in GQ Enumeration total

450
55,000
50,000

10
10
10

75
9,167

600,000

10

100,000

82
138,281
10,291

5
40
30

7
92,187
5,146

193,426,318

8,333

28,984,002

13. Estimate of Cost Burden to Respondents
There are no costs to respondents other than their time to participate in this data
collection.
14. Cost to Federal Government
The life-cycle cost of this collection for FY 2012 through 2023 is covered under the
requested budgets for the 2020 Census based on the 2017 update of the 2020 Census Life-cycle
Cost Estimate, and is estimated to be $15.6 billion. This amount includes conducting, planning,
managing, and supporting this collection, which includes the activities space acquisition, field
infrastructure and equipment, recruiting and hiring processes, postage, and print contracts
(“other objects”). This estimate also includes salaries for field workers, data capture processing
staff, and the staff in headquarters providing program management and/or systems
engineering and integration support. This cost estimate also includes all testing completed prior
to the 2020 Census and 2020 Census data product creation.

60

 15. Reason for Change Burden
The increase in burden is attributable to the information collection being submitted as a
revision to an approved collection. Program updates have resulted in additions to the scope
and scale of activities.
16. Project Schedule
Activity/Milestone
Address Canvassing
Address Canvassing Listing QC
Remote Alaska
Mailings
Internet Self-Response
Census Questionnaire Assistance
Non-ID Processing
Update Leave
Update Enumerate
Remote Alaska
NRFU
Nonresponse Followup Reinterview
Self-Response Quality Assurance
Field Verification
Coverage Improvement
Non-ID Processing Phone Followup
Group Quarters
Domestic Violence Shelter address collection
/GQ Update Program
GQ/TL Advance Contact in Remote Alaska
GQ Advance Contact (facility)
GQ Service-Based Enumeration
GQ Enumeration – eResponse (facility)
GQ Enumeration – person contact
Carnivals/circuses address collection
Hotels/motels address collection
Enumeration at Transitory Locations Advance
Contact and Enumeration at Transitory Locations
Federally Affiliated Count Overseas
Island Areas Censuses
* Includes training and QC activities, unless shown separately
61

Date/Range*
8/4/19 – 10/4/19
8/25/19 – 10/11/19
1/21/20 – 4/30/20
3/12/20 – 4/20/20
3/12/20 – 7/31/20
3/12/20 – 7/31/20
3/12/20 – 8/27/20
3/16/20 – 4/17/20
3/16/20 – 4/30/20
1/21/20 – 4/30/20
4/9/20 – 7/24/20
4/10/20 – 7/31/20
4/9/20 – 7/24/20
5/13/20 – 7/24/20
4/7/20 – 7/31/20
3/12/20 – 7/31/20
2/3/20 – 7/24/20
6/3/19 – 6/30/19
1/13/20 – 2/25/20
2/3/20 – 3/6/20
3/30/20 – 4/1/20
4/2/20 – 7/25/20
4/2/20 – 6/5/20
1/1/20 – 2/28/20
11/1/19 – 12/31/19
2/24/20 – 5/4/20
1/13/20 – 11/5/20
3/18/20 – 6/7/20

 17. Request to Not Display Expiration Date
No exemption is requested.
18. Exceptions to the Certification
There are no exceptions to the certification.

62

 Appendix A – Documents Included in the 2020 Census Package
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
21.

Supporting Statement A (this document)
Supporting Statement B
2020 Census Materials List
2020 Census 60-Day Federal Register Notice
Comments received on 60-Day Federal Register Notice – all comments posted on
regulations.gov
Responses to Comments Received about Address Canvassing on the 2020 Census 60Day Federal Register Notice
Responses to Comments Received about the 2020 Census Enumeration operations on
the 2020 Census 60-Day Federal Register Notice
Summary of Comments Received on the 2020 Census Federal Register Notice
2020 Census 30-Day Federal Register Notice – Address Canvassing
2020 Census 30-Day Federal Register Notice – Enumeration operations
2020 Census Address Canvassing 83-I
2020 Census Enumeration 83-I
2020 Census Address Canvassing Paperwork Reduction Act Executive Summary Form
2020 Census Enumeration Paperwork Reduction Act Executive Summary Form
2020 Census Operational Plan v4.0
Island Areas Censuses Questionnaire Content
Questions Planned for the 2020 Census and American Community Survey
Residence Criteria Federal Register Notice
CBAMS Focus Group Final Report
CBAMS Survey Report
Memo to OMB about Special Enumerations

63

 64

 

Program Management

1. Program Management
(PM)

Infrastructure

31. Decennial Service
Center (DSC)

Census/Survey Engineering

2. Systems Engineering
and Integration (SEI)

32. Field Infrastructure
(FLDI)

SUPPORT

3. Security, Privacy, and
Confidentiality (SPC)

33. Decennial Logistics
Management (DLM)

4. Content and
Forms Design (CFD)

34. IT Infrastructure
(ITIN)

5. Language Services
(LNG)

 

 

FRAME

6. Geographic Programs
(GEOP)

7. Local Update of
Census Addresses (LUCA)

8. Address Canvassing
(ADC)

RESPONSE DATA

9. Forms Printing and
Distribution (FPD)

10. Paper Data Capture
(PDC)

11. Integrated Partnership
and Communications (IPC)

12. Internet Sell-Response
(ISR)

13. Processing
(NID)

14. Update Enumerate
IUE)

15. Group Quarters (G0)

16. Enumeration at
Transitory Locations (ETL)

17. Census Questionnaire
Assistance (COA)

18. Nonresponse Followup
(NRFU)

19. Response Processing
(RPO)

20. Federally Affiliated
Count Overseas (FACO)

35. Update Leave (UL)

 

PUBLISH DATA

21. Data Products and
Dissemination (DPD)

22. Redistricting Data
Program (RDP)

23. Count Review (CRO)

24. Count Question
Resolution (CQR)

25. Archiving (ARC)

 

 

 

OTHER CENSUSES

26. Island Areas
Censuses (IAC)

 

TEST AND EVALUATION

27. Coverage Measurement

Design and Estimation
(CMDE)

28. Coverage Measurement
Matching (CMM)

29. Coverage Measurement
Field Operations (CM F0)

30. Evaluations and
Experiments (EAE)

 

 

Appendix 2020 Census Operations

Appendix C
The Operational Plan and all Detailed Operational Plans are available at the following link:
<https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census/2020-census/planningmanagement/memo-series.html>
Specific links:
The 2020 Census Operational Plan, v4.0
Detailed Operational Plans for the 2020 Census that have been or will soon be published under
the 2020 Census Memorandum Series are:
1. Address Canvassing (Memo 2018.12) <ADC DOP, v2.0, May 9, 2018>
2. Archiving (Memo 2018.19) <ARC DOP, v1.0, October 16, 2018>
3. Census Questionnaire Assistance (Memo 2018.05) <CQA DOP, v2.0, February 7, 2018>
4. Content and Forms Design (Memo 2016.12) <CFD DOP, v1.0, September 7, 2016>
5. Coverage Measurement Design and Estimation (TBD)
6. Coverage Measurement Field Operations (TBD)
7. Coverage Measurement Matching (TBD)
8. Count Question Review (TBD)
9. Count Review Operation (Memo 2019.17) <CRO DOP, v1.0, July 26, 2019>
10. Data Products and Dissemination (Memo 2019.07) <DPD DOP, v1.0, January 10, 2019>
11. Decennial Service Center (Memo 2018.11) <DSC DOP, v1.0, April 27, 2018>
12. Enumeration at Transitory Locations (Memo 2018.18) <ETL DOP, v1.0, September 10, 2018>
13. Evaluations and Experiments (TBD)
14. Federally Affiliated Count Overseas <FACO DOP, v1.0, May 30, 2019>
15. Field Infrastructure and Decennial Logistics Management (Memo 2019.08) <FLDI_DLM DOP,
v2.0, February 11, 2019>
16. Forms Printing and Distribution (TBD)
17. Geographic Programs, Geographic Data Processing Component (Memo 2016.18) <GP GDP
DOP, v1.0, September 13, 2016>
18. Geographic Programs, Geographic Delineations Component (Memo 2019.05) <GP GD DOP,
v2.0, December 31, 2018>
19. Geographic Programs, Geographic Partnership Programs Component (Memo 2016.20) <GP
GP DOP, v1.0, September 9, 2016>
20. Group Quarters (Memo 2017.18) <GQ DOP, v1.0, September 29, 2017>
21. Integrated Partnership and Communications (Memo 2016.17) <IPC DOP, v1.0, September
22, 2016>
22. Internet Self-Response (Memo 2018.17) <ISR DOP, v1.0, August 22, 2018>
23. Island Areas Censuses (TBD)
24. IT Infrastructure (Memo 2017.10) <ITIN DOP, v1.0, May 24, 2017>
25. Language Services (Memo 2016.11) <LNG DOP, v1.0, September 1, 2016>
26. Local Update of Census Addresses (Memo 2018.21) <LUCA DOP, v2.0, November 21, 2018>
65

 27. Non-ID Processing (Memo 2018.15) <NID DOP, v2.0, June 25, 2018>
28. Nonresponse Followup (Memo 2019.16) <NRFU DOP, v2.0, July 18, 2019>
29. Paper Data Capture (Memo 2017.13) <PDC DOP, v1.0, March 30, 2017>
30. Redistricting Data Program (Memo 2018.09) <RDP DOP, v2.0, April 6, 2018>
31. Response Processing (Memo 2017.11) <RPO DOP, v1.0, May 24, 2017>
32. Security, Privacy, and Confidentiality (Memo 2017.12) <SPC DOP, v1.0, June 6, 2017>
33. Update Enumerate (Memo 2018.20) <UE DOP, v1.0, November 16, 2018>
34. Update Leave (Memo 2018.14) <UL DOP, v1.0, June 25, 2018>

66