Kern behind state in Census response; new push for participation begins

June 11, 2020 /

The U.S Census Bureau has begun dropping off 2020 Census questionnaire packets in Kern County. 

Census Bureau workers will make a stop at more than 9,000 homes throughout the County, according to the Census Bureau. 

This will consist of leaving the questionnaire at the front door of homes who do not receive mail. This operation will help ensure a complete and accurate count of all communities, which helps guide hundreds of billions of dollars in public and private sector spending per year.

Kern County is behind the state in response rates. Only 56 percent of Kern households have responded, while 62 percent of the state’s households have responded. 

Kern is just one of many counties where this will be taking place. The Census Bureau will deliver 2020 Census invitations and paper questionnaires at the front doors of roughly 5.1 million stateside households and a total of 12,464 households in the counties of Kern, Kings, and Tulare, the news release says.

The Census Bureau began hand-delivering census materials on March 15, but suspended all fieldwork for this operation on March 18 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a news release.

The Census Bureau is encouraging those who have not responded to the Census to do so. People have until Oct. 31 to respond. 

People can fill out census questionnaire online using their census ID number, by phone, or mail.  

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic they will keep this contactless to meet the approval of health regulations.

JaNell Gore

Ja'Nell Gore is a student at Cal State Bakersfield. In addition to writing for Kern Sol News she is a poet who loves any chance she has to perform and be with her community.