Households randomly selected to test the pre-registration system received a postcard with instructions on how to go online and pre-register on or about June 5. 

Households in the 2014 Census Test areas received an email, a text message, or a letter on or about June 23, notifying them that it is time to respond. The Census Bureau only sent the text messages to those households that chose that option when pre-registering. The email, text, or letter provided instructions on how to access the 2014 Census Test website and respond. A small subset of addresses received a letter or automated telephone call on or about June 17, to let them know that they’ll be receiving an email invitation to participate.

Households received several reminders during the 2014 Census Test. They were in the form of emails, text messages (for those who preregistered for the text option), or postcards. Households received reminders on or about July 1, July 8, and July 15. On or about July 15, households that still haven’t responded received a paper questionnaire in the mail.

A small subset of households received a fourth reminder, via an automated telephone call, on or about July 22. Only households that haven’t responded received the reminders.

Follow-up interviews and field evaluations required additional visits or telephone contacts to a small proportion of households. Census enumerators visited households from mid-August through September 2014.

The Census Bureau will not release official population counts from this test. The test was designed to measure how well a variety of new technologies and census-taking methods work. It was not designed to obtain a complete and accurate count. The test will support the critical research on potential methods for the 2020 Census.