Postcards encouraging households to respond to census sent to P.O. boxes

The U.S. Census Bureau is sending postcards between June 24 and July 3 to an estimated 1.3 million post office boxes in communities where P.O. boxes are the only mailing address available. The postcards alert households that a census taker may drop off census invitations soon or will visit later to interview them. The postcards also provide information on how to respond to the 2020 Census online or by phone.

Households are encouraged to respond to the 2020 Census as soon as they receive their invitation packet. Households that receive mail in P.O. boxes should provide their street address (not their P.O. box number) when responding to ensure their response is associated with the physical location where they live, not where they receive mail.

Households can respond online in English or 12 other languages, by phone using the Census ID included in the packet or by completing and mailing back the paper questionnaire delivered to them.

For more information, visit 2020census.gov.

Background information

The 2020 census is still taking place. Wisconsin is among the nation’s leading states for self-response. As of June 23, Wisconsin ranked second in the nation, with a self-response rate of 68.6 percent, compared with the national response rate of 61.7 percent.

If you already received an invitation to participate in the census, now is a great time to respond. Responding to the 2020 census is easier than ever before. You can respond by internet, phone and mail. Use the ID number included in the questionnaire packet or mailing. Responding with a census ID or the paper questionnaire helps ensure the best count of your community.

The timeline for responding to the 2020 census has been extended to October 31. One more postcard will be sent between July 22-28 prior to census takers visiting households.