The 2026 Census Test is the first of two field tests to help the Census Bureau prepare for the 2030 Census. Priorities for the test include evaluating the use of the United States Postal Service (USPS) in tasks that are typically performed by Census Bureau field workers and improving in-field enumeration processes. The Census Bureau remains committed to conducting a complete and accurate count in the 2030 Census.
The 2026 Census Test will test processes to help improve how everyone is counted in the 2030 Census. Census results will shape our nation for the next 10 years, and the 2026 Census Test is a key step in preparation for a successful 2030 Census.
The 2026 Census Test will be conducted in Huntsville, AL and Spartanburg, SC.
Huntsville, AL and Spartanburg, SC were selected to give the Census Bureau the opportunity to explore how working with the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) could increase effectiveness and how to improve in-field enumeration processes for the 2030 Census.
These sites allow the Census Bureau the opportunity to refine its operations and technologies, alongside ongoing small-scale testing for 2030 Census enhancements. They offer unique characteristics, such as rural and urban areas, areas with historically low response rates, as well as complex housing units and hidden housing units.
The 2026 Census Test will begin on May 1 when residents in the test locations will be able to respond online. Starting on June 1 and through August 31 when data collection ends, census takers, including postal workers, may visit households that do not respond on their own to collect responses in person.
The pilot program is a new collaboration between the Census Bureau and USPS to assess the feasibility of using postal workers to collect census responses from households who do not respond on their own. The pilot will help to inform potential nationwide implementation in the 2030 Census.
The USPS already plays an essential role in helping the Census Bureau reach every household in the nation by delivering census information by mail. The Census Bureau aims to leverage postal workers’ local knowledge and existing relationships with communities to collect census responses.
Postal workers will assist with collecting responses from households who do not respond to the 2026 Census Test on their own.
Starting in June and through August, census takers (including postal workers) may visit homes that don’t respond on their own to the 2026 Census Test to count households in person.
In the Spartanburg test area, postal workers will collect responses as part of their mail delivery routes. Households will either be visited by a postal worker or non-postal census taker depending on their location.
In Huntsville, the Census Bureau will directly hire postal workers to collect responses outside of their USPS work hours. Because census takers often have to visit households more than once, it is possible that a household is visited by both postal and non-postal census takers.
The Census Bureau will draw on postal workers’ local knowledge and community relationships to collect responses. Whether postal workers conduct follow-up visits during their regular mail routes or outside their postal duties depends on the site.
In Huntsville, the Census Bureau will directly hire postal workers to collect responses outside of their USPS work hours. They will identify themselves solely as Census Bureau employees. There will also be around 25 other (non-postal worker) census takers collecting responses for the same households.
In Spartanburg, households will either be visited by a postal worker or a traditional, non-postal census taker. Only a portion of staff will be postal workers. Postal workers in the pilot will collect responses as part of their delivery routes whereas households visited by a non-postal census taker will be visited by a Census Bureau employee. It will be made clear to respondents that their census taker is a postal worker.
Postal workers will go through the same training as Census Bureau census takers. This includes mandatory training on protecting respondent and data confidentiality, use of Census Bureau-issued devices, and data security requirements. All postal workers will adhere to Title 13 of the U.S. Code confidentiality provisions. They will also have undergone required background checks and will take an oath for life to protect respondent confidentiality.
Yes, like any other census taker, every postal worker who collects data for the Census Bureau will swear an oath to protect the confidentiality of your responses and have undergone a background check and completed mandatory training.
Households who do not respond on their own may be visited by a census taker, who may be a postal worker, to collect their response in person starting on June 1 and through August 31 when data collection ends.
If you were selected to participate, your response is important. Your participation will help us work toward the goal of a complete and accurate count of every area of the country in 2030.
Yes. Responses to Census Bureau surveys are safe, secure, and protected by federal law. All responses are kept completely confidential and can only be used to produce statistics.
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