Where do I get counted?
The Census Bureau developed residence rules that provide instructions on where people should get counted during the Census. Most people should be counted in the residence in which they live or sleep most of the time. However, some people may have unique living situations and be unsure about where they should count themselves.
Typical Living Situations
People who are on vacation or a business trip on Census Day, April 1, 2010 should be counted at the home where they live and sleep most of the time.
Non-Permanent Residences or Without Housing
People who are living in a temporary housing unit, or staying temporarily with family or friends should get counted in the residence where they live and sleep most of the time or where they are staying on Census Day, April 1, 2010.
People experiencing homelessness will be counted by the Census Bureau in an operation called Service-Based Enumeration (SBE). The SBE was designed to provide an opportunity for people experiencing homelessness to be included in the census, by counting them at service-based locations. Service-based locations include emergency and transitional shelters for people experiencing homelessness, soup kitchens, regularly scheduled mobile food vans, and pre-identified outdoor locations.
People in Group Quarters, or Other Institutions
People living in group quarters such as hospitals, prisons, nursing homes, college dormitories, or transitional shelters for people experiencing homelessness will be counted in their group location by the Census Bureau (see Non-Permanent Residences above).
Patients in general hospitals or wards, including newborn babies get counted in the residence where they usually live and sleep most of the time. Newborn babies are counted at the residence in which they will be living.
Migrant and seasonal farm workers get counted where they live and sleep most of the time if they report a residence otherwise they may get counted at the workers' camp where they stay most of the time. If you believe you were not counted, you can also pick up a Be Counted form available at various community locations (click here for more information).
People with Multiple Residences
Children in joint custody will be counted at the residence where they live most of the time. If time is equally divided, they are counted where they are staying on Census Day (April 1, 2010).
U.S. Military Personnel
US. Military personnel living in the barracks in the United States gets counted in the barracks.
US. Military personnel living on or off base in the United States, but not in the barracks gets counted in the residence where they live and sleep most of the time
US. Military personnel in the military and living overseas get counted using the military's records for home address.
Foreign Citizens
Citizens of foreign countries living in the United States get counted in the residence where they live and sleep most of the time.
Foreign citizens visiting the United States on a vacation or business trip do not get counted in the Census.
U.S. Citizens Living Abroad
U.S. citizens not employed by the U.S. Government who are working, studying, or living overseas do not get counted in the Census.