April 1 is Census Day

April 1 is Census Day – an important milestone for the 2020 Census. “As so much of our focus is appropriately on our community response to COVID-19, it remains critical that everyone who lives in Madison and Dane County completes the census and is counted,” said Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway. “As we practice physical distancing, please take the opportunity to show social solidarity by completing the census, now, from the comfort and safety of your own home and encourage your friends, family and colleagues to do the same.”

All Madison residents should be counted based on where they live most of the time as of April 1. “Snowbirds” who live in Madison for most of the year should be counted here, even if they are not in Madison today. Similarly, students attending UW-Madison should complete the census with their Madison address, even if they have left the city due to COVID-19.

“COVID-19 has resulted in a shift to online instruction, but even if Badgers are not back on Campus, UW students should fill out the 2020 Census as Madison residents,” said Brenda Gonzalez, UW-Madison’s Director of Community Relations and member of both the City and State 2020 Census Complete Count Committees. “The UW is working with the Census Bureau to make sure students who were living in residence halls are properly counted. We are also reaching out to students living in off-campus housing, as well as their parents, to make sure students fill out the census as Madison residents.”

While COVID-19 has eliminated in-person events, the City continues to reach out to communicate the importance of the census electronically, via neighborhoods, Community Partners, the Complete Count Committee, and others.

“Over $675 billion in federal funds are distributed every year to communities across the country based on the census,” said Rhodes-Conway. “These are resources that will prove vital in our long-term recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.”

As of March 31, Wisconsin was leading all states in response rate, but still only 44.3% of mailed census invitations in the state have been completed. Dane County’s rate was slightly higher, at 49.9%, with the City of Madison at 47.9%. The 2020 Census can be completed online at my2020census.gov, by phone, or by mail. Residents should complete the census in April to avoid an in-person follow-up visit from a Census Bureau employee later.

“Please help Madison and Dane County achieve a complete count by taking the census today and encouraging your friends, family, and colleagues to as well. It has never been easier to respond,” said Rhodes-Conway.