Nearly 40% of Minot residents had been counted when Census Day arrived on April 1.

The census continues into the summer as Americans are asked about the number of people living in their homes on April 1. The U.S. Census Bureau reported 39.6% of Minot residents, 39% of North Dakotans and 38.4% of all households across the nation already had responded to the 2020 Census since invitations began arriving in mailboxes March 12-20.

“We’re actually in pretty good shape,” said Dennis Johnson, deputy regional director, Kansas City, Mo. “We’re very pleased with North Dakota and hope that we can keep that trend going.”

The Census Bureau is encouraging the public to respond to the 2020 Census online. Phone and mail options also exist. In light of the coronavirus precautions, there’s a push for a high self-response rate, reducing the need for field workers to go door-to-door to follow up. The start of those follow-up visits have been pushed back, with the primary follow-up presently set to start May 28.

“Everything subject to change, as is all of life right now, but we had a two-week delay initially,” Johnson said. “We are constantly re-assessing and seeing what’s going to be best for our workers, for the public in general, and to make sure that when we do start field operations that everyone is going to be safe.

“In the meantime, we’re continuing to communicate with our staff. We’re doing what we can to prepare. And, of course, the big thing is to get folks to respond. The more people that respond safely online, we don’t have to even worry about those households. They’ve already been taken care of,” he said.

Decisions about when it becomes safe to send census workers door to door are made in conjunction with the Center for Disease Control and Prevention and other government departments.

“This is a constitutionally required activity so it will happen. We know that. The timing is really the question, and the ability not just to complete the operation but to make sure that we have plenty of time to complete the processing and verify the accuracy before the end of the year, which is when legally we’re required to have the population totals,” Johnson said.

The closing of colleges and universities in response to the COVID-19 pandemic hasn’t changed the way students are included in the count. The Census Bureau is working with the institutions to count students where they normally would be if not for the coronavirus disruption. Universities and colleges are counting students in group quarters. Students living off campus should count themselves in those locations where they normally would be if classes were being held.

Should campuses and families each count the same student, the Census Bureau has a process of review for catching duplication and verifying the proper location for counting students.

Greater focus also has been placed on hard-to-count populations, such as tribal communities. The Census Bureau began working well before the start of the census with tribes and tribal leaders to ensure an accurate count. As of April 1, only 3% of residents on the Turtle Mountain Reservation and 3.4% of residents on Fort Berthold Reservation had responded to the census survey. Spirit Lake was at 5.2% and Standing Rock at 4.7%.

Overall, Johnson said, he expects a higher initial response both because of the added options for completing the survey and the degree of effort being made to get people to respond.

“I’ve seen greater support at the local level than we’ve ever seen, and that typically translates into higher response,” he said. “Of course, we all have the national emergency on our minds, but this is something that can be a positive step that people can do. As long as we’re making sure to communicate that, I think people will respond. Americans always respond during an emergency.”

Much of the census work continues, and field workers will be ready to go in May.

“Once we start rolling, we will need a lot more people,” said Johnson, who noted the Census Bureau continues to hire. The agency encourages people who have been furloughed or laid off due to the pandemic to consider applying for temporary census position.

To apply, visit 2020 census.gov/jobs. The website includes a list of locations, pay rates and other information about the jobs available.

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County response rates, April 1

Bottineau 29.3%

Burke 21.7%

Divide 19.8%

McHenry 33.8%

McKenzie 17.4%

McLean 24.6%

Mountrail 11.8%

Pierce 48.5%

Renville 24.9%

Rolette 10.8%

Sheridan 30.9%

Wells 44.0%

Ward 37.6%

Williams 26.5%

North Dakota 39.0%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau