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Respond To 2020 Census By Mail, Online

A census taker walking down the street
US National Guard

Thursday was the first day of the 2020 census. For the first time ever you can complete the 2020 census online. The census bureau hopes this will make it easier to complete and will increase accuracy. You can also complete the census over phone or mail.

According to the 2010 census, just short of three million people live in Utah. Coralys Jiménez, a representative of the census bureau, says knowing this number gives the government direction on how to develop your city. 

“The census is vital for our community development. Our state officials, our local officials, as well as the federal government use our data for each and every single planification that they do," Jiménez said.

The census is also used to determine how much funding your city receives and its representation power in government.

“The census is used to determine how much funding local communities receive for key public services. We're talking more than 200 federal programs rely on our data.  It determines also how many seats each state gets in Congress. And then at the state and local level, officials use census counts to draw boundaries for congressional, state, legislative and school districts," Jiménez said.

Some people have presented concerns about fraudulent census workers. Jiménez said if you are ever worried about a fraudulent census worker at your doorstep you can call the census bureau.

“If for any reason you're suspicious that that person in your house is not a census worker, we have a phone number where people can call: 1-800-923-8282. The Census Bureau will never ask for your social security number, money or donations. We also don't ask for your bank or credit card account numbers," Jiménez said.

To complete the census please visit 2020census.gov or complete the census questionnaire you’ve received in the mail.