Key Dates
Fall 2008
Recruitment begins for local Census jobs for early operations
Although recruiting efforts for 2009 census taker jobs have ended, peak recruitment efforts begin in the fall of 2009 (See "Peak recruitment for 2010 activities" below, or visit the Census Bureau's website).
Spring 2009
Census employees go door-to-door to update address list nationwide
Census workers canvass the country to verify and update address lists and maps from the previous census to ensure that they have a complete list for the 2010 Census. Workers will identify housing units and identify other living quarters so the Census Bureau can use the updated address list to mail or deliver questionnaires to households in March 2010. This process is important because buildings that existed during the last Census may no longer be standing, or a neighborhood may have new construction that needs to be updated on the Census Bureau's address list.
October 1, 2009
Peak recruitment efforts begin for 2010 activities
Peak recruitment efforts begin in the fall of 2009 with the majority of the hiring taking place in the spring of 2010. To learn about other Census jobs in your area please visit the 2010 Census Regional Offices Website, select your state on the map provided, and then select the "Regional Employment" option.
January 1, 2010
ya es hora ¡HAGASE CONTAR! 1-877-EL-CENSO Hotline Launch
The ya es hora ¡HAGASE CONTAR! Campaign hotline will be available for providing reliable information and answering all questions relating to the census.
January- May 2010
Census Bureau Questionnaire Assistance Centers open
The Census Bureau's Questionnaire Assistance Centers will open to answer questions on how to complete the Census form.
January-March 2010
Census advance letters mailed to all households
The advance letter notifies households to look for their questionnaire and explains why it is important for them to participate. The letter will explain that their response is mandatory and that their answers will be kept confidential.
February 25-July 30, 2010
Telephone Assistance Hotline available: 1-866-872-6868/Spanish calls to 1-866-928-2010. Bilingual forms available.
These centers will be available to answer questions about the questionnaire. Please see the Census Form section for more information on getting assistance with completing the form.
March 15-17, 2010
Census questionnaires mailed and or delivered to households
More than 130 million households throughout the country will receive a Census form in March 2010, either by mail or in person by a Census worker. Households should complete and return the form as soon as possible.
March 27, 2010
ya es hora ¡HAGASE CONTAR! "How to fill out the Census form" Instructional Programming and Guide
Media partners, Univision and impreMedia will promote the participation of the Census by providing guidance on how to complete the census form through their programming and via circulation of their publications, respectively. Univision will incorporate community programming that involves explaining "how to" complete their forms. impreMedia will produce a "how-to" insert in their publications that will aid the community when they begin to fill out their Census form.
April 1, 2010
Census Day
April 1 is the day established by the Census Bureau as Census Day - households list the individuals residing in the household on April 1. However, households do not need to wait until April 1st to complete and return their forms. Again, households should complete and return their forms as soon as possible. Households that have not returned their census forms by April 9th will receive a visit from a Census worker to obtain their responses in person.
March 19-April 19, 2010
Be Counted Program
The Be Counted Program is designed for persons who believe they were not counted in the 2010 Census. The Census Bureau will place unaddressed census questionnaires at various community locations so that individuals that did not receive one in the mail can complete the questionnaire. Be Counted forms will be available in English, Spanish, Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese, and Russian. The form should be picked up and mailed back in the attached postage-paid envelope. The deadline for mailing a Be Counted form is May 1, 2010.
April-June 2010
USPS delivers replacement questionnaires
Replacement questionnaires will be delivered to certain households by the U.S. Postal Service between April 1 and April 3, about 10 days after reminder postcards are mailed.
May 1-July 10, 2010
Census workers visit households that did not return a questionnaire by mail
Households that still have not returned their questionnaires will be visited by a Census worker to take a count in person.