The 2020 Census kicks off in January, launching a massive effort to tally up the country’s population that will determine federal funding levels and states’ seats in Congress.
2020 will mark the first time the census can be completed online, and while door-to-door outreach will continue, the bureau will also use tech and social media to connect with and count people across Arizona.
But to do that, and to ensure an accurate count, census officials will have to employ about half a million temporary workers nationwide. The U.S. Census Bureau officially launched its Phoenix office Tuesday as it prepares for a local effort that will have to work hard to reach far-flung rural areas as well as Latino and Native American communities that may be skeptical of officials.
To share more about the massive effort, The Show spoke with Dale Kelly, the bureau’s field division chief.