Ramsey County and the 2020 Census

How is the information that is collected used?

Data from the census provide the basis for distributing more than $675 billion in federal funds annually to communities across the country to support vital programs—impacting housing, education, transportation, employment, health care and public policy.

The data is also used to determine the number of congressional seats each state has in the U.S. House of Representatives and redraw the boundaries of congressional and state legislative districts. Minnesota currently has 8 seats in the House, but we’re at risk of losing one. A complete count gives our state the strongest possible voice in DC.

Are my answers safe?

Yes, your information is confidential. The U.S. Census Bureau never identifies you individually. It combines your responses with information from other households or businesses to produce statistics, which never identify your household, any person in your household, or business. 

Title 13 of the U.S. Code protects the confidentiality of all your information and violating this law is a crime with severe penalties. In addition, other federal laws, including the Confidential Statistical Efficiency Act and the Privacy Act reinforce these protections. The penalty for unlawful disclosure is a fine of up to $250,000 or imprisonment of up to 5 years, or both.

No law enforcement agency (DHS, ICE, FBI or CIA) can access or use your personal information at any time. Data collected can only be used for statistical purposes that help inform important decisions, including how much federal funding our community will receive.

What information will be asked?

 The decennial census will collect basic information about the people living in your household. When completing the census, you should count everyone who is living in your household on April 1, 2020.

What information will not be asked?

There will be no citizenship question on the 2020 Census. In addition, the Census Bureau will never ask for:

• Social Security numbers.
• Bank or credit card account numbers.
• Money or donations.
• Anything on behalf of a political party.

How do I verify the identity of a census taker who knocks on my door?

If someone visits your home to collect a response for the 2020 Census, you can do the following to verify their identity:

• First, check to make sure that they have a valid ID badge, with their photograph, a U.S. Department of Commerce watermark and an expiration date.
• If you still have questions about their identity, you can call 800-923-8282 to speak with a local Census Bureau representative.

Additional handouts for the community:

• Census 101: What You Need to Know (PDF)​
• Información básica sobre el censo: Lo que usted necesita saber (PDF)
• TIROKOOB 101: WAXAAD U BAAHANTAHAY IN AAD OGAATID (PDF)
• Census 101:KOJ YUAV TSUM PAUB TXOG DAB TSI (PDF)
• Census 101: What You Need to Know_Lao (PDF)
• The 2020 Census and Confidentiality (PDF)
• El Censo del 2020 y la Confidencialidad (PDF)
• Tirakoobka 2020-ka iyo Qarsoodiga Jawaabaha (PDF)
• ການສໍ າຫຼວດພົນລະເມືອງປີ 2020 ແລະ ການຮັ ກສາຄວາມລັ ບ (PDF)
• The 2020 Census: Why does it matter? (PDF)
• The 2020 Census: Why does it matter?_Karen (PDF)
• Why We Ask (PDF)

If you have additional questions:

• English speakers can text COUNT to 662020.
• Spanish speakers can text CENSO to 662020.
• Somali speakers can text TIRI to 662020.
• Hmong speakers can text SUAVPEB to 662020.

Somali speakers may also call 651-333-2144 with questions.

Engage

Join the effort to organize your community. Contact community groups to ask what they are doing to prepare for the census and how you can help. Raise awareness about the census at school events, local festivals, National Night Out and other community events. This will be especially important in neighborhoods that have been undercounted in the past: West Side, North End, Rondo, Frogtown, Dayton’s Bluff and others. Explore the Census Bureau’s interactive map to see where our efforts are needed most.

Spread the word on social media. Follow Ramsey County and Saint Paul on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram for messages that you can share with your friends and followers.

Lead

Start a Complete Count Committee to ensure that everyone in your neighborhood, apartment complex, campus, faith community, cultural group or workplace is counted. Complete Count Committees take many forms, raising awareness and promoting participation among any group of people. You know your community best!

Partner with Ramsey County and the City of Saint Paul to engage historically undercounted communities. The county offers partnership opportunities for trusted messengers to do grassroots organizing and community engagement in their communities.  Fill out the contact form if interested.

Ramsey County and the City of Saint Paul have established a joint Complete Count Committee (CCC) for the 2020 Census. The purpose of the committee is to work together to achieve a complete count of all our residents. It brings together diverse representatives from local government, community organizations, faith-based groups, education, media and the local business community.

Working together, CCC members raise awareness about how the census works, the importance of an accurate, complete count, and the confidentiality of census data.

The joint CCC is co-chaired by Ramsey County Commissioner Victoria Reinhardt and Saint Paul City Councilmember Mitra Jalali Nelson.

For more information about the joint CCC and other efforts to prepare for the 2020 Census, please reach us using the contact form on the right.