2020 Census

United States Census 2020 Coming April 1, 2020: Everyone counts in Tamarac logo

Participating in the 2020 Census is one of the most important things residents can do to help the City of Tamarac get its fair share of federal funds, as well as fair representation in state and federal government. Fortunately, it’s easy, safe and completely confidential. Here’s what you need to know.

Why You Should Respond

• It’s your civic duty! The U.S. Constitution mandates a census once every 10 years.

• The federal government will use 2020 Census data to determine how to distribute more than $675 billion annually for the next decade. It will help our community get our share of federal funding for schools, hospitals, roads, public works and other vital programs.

• Your responses are also used to determine how many representatives we have in Congress as well as our state legislature. Boundaries for congressional and state legislative districts are redrawn after each census to account for population shifts and to make sure districting is fair.

• Local governments use census data for public safety, emergency preparedness and to plan for the future.

• Businesses use census information when deciding where to locate.

• Real estate developers use it to determine where to build new homes.

What’s Asked and What’s Not

• The census includes questions about the age, sex and race of everyone who lives in your home, including children. It also asks whether you rent or own your home.

• The 2020 Census does NOT include questions about citizenship. Nor will you be asked for social security numbers, bank or credit card information, money or donations, or anything related to political parties.

Complete Confidentiality 

• Your response to the census is protected by federal law and can only be used to produce statistics. 

It can’t be shared with any other government agencies including the FBI, CIA, DHS and ICE.

• 2020 Census records can’t even be released to the national archive until 2092 – 72 years from now!

Three Ways to Respond

• You can reply to the census online, by phone or by mail.

• Census forms are available in many languages.

Census Timeline

• You’ll receive a notice in the mail between March 12th and March 20th with instructions on how to complete the questionnaire. It will include a personal code for online responses and instructions to respond by phone or mail.

• April 1st is Census Day. Your census count must be based on who lives in your household on April 1st.

• Several reminders will be sent in March and April if you have yet to respond.

• From May through July, the U.S. Census Bureau will follow up in person with households that haven’t responded. Census workers wear ID badges that include their name, photograph, the Department of Commerce watermark and an expiration date. They also carry an official bag and/or a laptop with the U.S. Census Bureau logo.

For more information, visit www.2020Census.gov.