WHY IS IT IMPORTANT?

Money to States and Localities

Census decennial data determines how more than $675 billion are spent, every year for the next 10 years, supporting your state, county and local communities for health, education, housing, and infrastructure programs. Accurate census counts ensure that funding is equitably distributed for numerous programs such as Medicaid, highway planning and construction, special education grants to states, the National School Lunch Program, and Head Start.

Planning

Data from the census also informs a wide range of government, business, and nonprofit decision making. Governments and nonprofit organizations rely on decennial census data to determine the need for new roads, hospitals, schools, and other public sector investments. Census data are also vital to businesses as a key source of information about the U.S. population’s changing needs.

Fair representation

Every 10 years, the results of the census are used to reapportion the House of Representatives, determining how many seats each state gets.

Redistricting

After each census, state officials use the results to redraw the boundaries of their congressional and state legislative districts, adapting to population shifts.

How should you respond to the "Race" question number 9?

If you would like to be counted as an Iranian, in your response to question number 9 mark [X] any single Race box that you most identify with, and make sure you write-in “IRANIAN” in the text-box below it.

IMPORTANT: DO NOT MARK [X] ON MULTIPLE RACE BOXES unless you truly identify yourself as being from “Two or More Different Races.”

Why is an accurate count of Iranians in America so important?

An accurate count can increase:

Awareness: This may lead to the designation of Iranians as a minority, which enhances employment, university admission, and loan qualification opportunities, grant funding for programs aimed at serving our community.

Funding: Iranians may be able to receive funding for community-specific work.

Political Influence: Officials campaigning for elected office will identify the Iranian community as a target constituency from which to solicit votes and target policy.

Public Service: Some local, state and national organizations are required to provide services that address the needs of a specific ethnic and minority community (i.e., Persian speaking nurses).

Civic Uses: Ethnic organizations depend wholly on ancestry data to identify, locate and mobilize their constituencies. Civil rights agencies also require ancestral data to monitor discrimination based on national origin.

Research Uses: Social scientists, journalists and other researchers rely on census and ACS data to study ethnic population groups, demographic trends, as well as economic and educational mobility.

April 1, 2020: Census Day is observed nationwide. By this date, every home will receive an invitation to participate in the 2020 Census. Once the invitation arrives, you should respond for your home in one of three ways: online, by phone, or by mail. When you respond to the census, you tell the Census Bureau where you live as of April 1, 2020.

April 2020: Census takers begin visiting college students who live on campus, people living in senior centers, and others who live among large groups of people. Census takers also begin conducting quality check interviews to help ensure an accurate count.

Are foreign citizens counted in the Census?

The U.S. Constitution mandates that a census be taken every 10 years to count all people—both citizens and non-citizens—living in the United States. The foreign resident population includes legal permanent residents, foreign students in the United States on student visas, and other foreign citizens who reside in the United States on Census Day.

When will Census begin?

March 12-20 nearly every household (based on demographic characteristics and Internet connectivity of a geographic area) will receive an invitation to self-response and complete the questionnaire online.

April 1 Census Day is basically a benchmark day.

Later in April starts early nonresponsive follow-up. This is an opportunity to count individuals that may have moved before NON-RESPONSE FOLLOW UP begins.
August is the official Non-response follow-up where we reach out to households who did not respond to the 2020 census questionnaire.
August 2020: The Census Bureau begins visiting homes that haven't responded to the 2020 Census to make sure everyone is counted.

Your data is confidential

Federal law protects your census responses. Your answers can only be used to produce statistics. By law, the U.S. Census Bureau cannot share your information with immigration enforcement agencies, law enforcement agencies, or allow it to be used to determine your eligibility for government benefits. Title 13 of the U.S. Code requires the U.S. Census Bureau to keep all information about all respondents strictly confidential and protected from unauthorized use. Any Census Bureau employee who violates these provisions is subject to a fine of up to $250,000 or a prison sentence up to 5 years, or both.

2020 will be easier than ever

For the first time, people will be able to respond anytime, anywhere — online from any device, by phone or by mail. In 2020 every household will have the option of responding online, by mail, or by phone. (13 languages including English will be supported online)