Pa. Reminds Residents Not to Forget About the U.S. Census

On April 1, the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) Secretary Dennis Davin reminded all Pennsylvanians to “be a good neighbor” and respond to the 2020 Census.

“We’re committed to working together to make sure all Pennsylvanians are counted in the Census. said Secretary Davin. “Now more than ever, our representation and billions of dollars of funding for critical resources depend on an accurate count of all Pennsylvanians, no matter who they are or where they live.”

April 1 was the 22nd National Census Day, and 2020 marks the first time in history that responses can be filled out online. It has never been easier for Pennsylvanians to respond online, by phone, or by mail, Davin said.

The Census questionnaire is simple and confidential, with questions that include a resident’s name, address, sex, race, ethnicity, age, and whether the respondent owns or rents a home.

Davin said that the Census Bureau will never ask about citizenship status, or for sensitive information like social security numbers, bank accounts, or payments or donations made.

The Census Bureau will never reach out to a resident on behalf of a political party.

Responses to the Census are protected by law and cannot be shared with, or used by, any other government agencies. Answers cannot be used for law enforcement purposes or to determine eligibility for government benefits or immigration enforcement.

The United States Constitution requires a Census count once every 10 years and counts every person living in the United States once and only once.

The results of the 2020 Census will help provide fair representation when determining congressional districts, policy, decision-making, and distribution of billions of dollars in federal funding that impacts the daily lives of Pennsylvanians over the next 10 years.

For more information about the U.S. Census, visit the PA Census website, and be sure to stay up-to-date with all of our agency news on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.