Census takers knocking on doors in Clayton and across the country -

If you haven’t filled out the 2020 Census questionnaire, chances are you’ll receive a knock on your door in the coming days.

The U.S. Census Bureau has begun following up with households nationwide that have not yet responded. Based on the current national self-response rate of 63.3 percent, the bureau estimates it will need to visit about 56 million addresses to collect responses in person. Up to 500,000 census takers across the country will go door to door to assist people in responding.

Thanks to the sense of civic responsibility in Clayton, 86.5 percent of the town’s households have responded. That puts Clayton second in the state, just behind Piedmont, with 87.8 percent. Clayton Mayor Julie Pierce and Piedmont Mayor Robert McBain have issued a friendly challenge for achieving the highest percentage, and Clayton is closing in on the lead. The finish line is Sept. 30, one month less than previously indicated by the Census Bureau.

Census takers, called enumerators, are hired from local communities. If a census taker does not speak the householder’s language, the household may request a return visit from a census taker who does. Census takers will also have materials on hand to help identify the household’s language.

Enumerators have training on social distancing and safety protocols. They will follow local public health guidelines and will be required to wear a face mask. They can be easily identified by a valid government ID badge with their photograph, a U.S. Department of Commerce watermark and an expiration date on the badge. To confirm a census taker’s identity, you may call 213-314-6500.

Not too late

People can still self-respond online at 2020census.gov, by phone (844-330-2020 English or 844-468-202 Spanish) or by mailing the completed questionnaire.

The U.S. Constitution mandates a census of the population every 10 years, and federal law requires a response to the Census. The goal of the 2020 Census is to count everyone who lives in the United States on April 1, 2020. Census statistics are used to determine the number of seats each state holds in the U.S. House of Representatives and inform how billions of dollars in federal funds will be allocated by state, local and federal lawmakers annually for the next 10 years.

Funding for essential services like firefighting, schools, roads, health care and much more depend on an accurate count. Get counted to make sure your city receives its fair share.

Michael is a Census Bureau media specialist. For more information, visit 2020census.gov.

Tags: 2020 Census, City of Clayton