FAQ & Resources
We’re clearing up any tricky questions you might have about the census.
For more information checkout Who to Count.
Who Should Be “Person 1?”
The 2020 form says “Person 1” should be someone who pays the rent or owns the home. If nobody meets that description, start by listing any adult living in the household as “Person 1.” Any adult living in the household can be Person 1, work with your household to figure that out.
Unsure If You Have Been Counted?
If you’re unsure if others in your home completed the 2020 Census and included you, complete the 2020 Census on your own and include everyone living in your household (children, non-relatives, and other families). The Census Bureau has processes in place to resolve duplicate submissions.
Hispanic, Latino, or Spanish origin Question
Hispanic origins are not races. Hispanic origin can be viewed as the heritage, nationality, lineage, or country of birth of the person or the person’s parents or ancestors before arriving in the United States. People who identify as Hispanic, Latino, or Spanish may be any race.
Is a person required to answer all of the census questions?
No. If you don’t answer all the questions, your form can still be submitted. However a census taker may come to your house to collect the missing information.
How do I count children living between 2 households?
The census counts everyone where they live and sleep most of the time, even if the living arrangement is temporary or the parents of the child do not live there.
- If the child truly spends equal amounts of time between two homes, count them where they are staying on Census Day April 1. Coordinate with the other parent or caregiver, if possible, so the child is not counted at both homes.
- If it’s not clear where the child lives or sleeps most of the time, count them where they will be staying on Census Day, April 1.
How to Count Return Missionaries:
If missionaries returned home before or on April 1, 2020 they should be counted in Utah and included in the household where they live.
○ If a household already completed the census they should complete the census again through the “non-Census ID” option online and count everyone living in the household including the returned missionary.
○ Missionaries who were living outside the United States on April 1, 2020, are not counted in the census.
How to Count College Students:
Students who were living on campus or away from home, but are currently home due to COVID-19, should be counted in the city where they went to school spring semester. College students living on campus will be counted through the group quarter enumeration, which is where the college or university counts the students through administrative records.
○ Students who live in off-campus residence- such as a private house or apartment -should respond to the 2020 Census online, by phone, or by mail.
○ College students who are living outside the United States while attending college on April 1, 2020 are not counted in the census.
U.S. Military Personnel
Military personnel who are temporarily deployed overseas should be counted at their usual home address in the United States.
Counting Young Children
Newborn babies and young children under five are often missed in the census. Make sure you count every child living in your household on April 1st, and please report their accurate age (don’t round a child’s age).
Citizenship Question
There will be NO question on the 2020 census that asks if a person is a citizen of the United States.