The Census Bureau is seeking public comment on “Peak Data Collection” and the 2026 Census Test by March 11, 2025.
The Federal Register Notice notes that the 2026 Census Test “is the first of two major field tests planned to help the Census Bureau prepare for the 2030 Census… it is a scaled-down version of the selected aspects of the census conducted in six field sites across the nation.”
The field test “also includes a nationally representative sample of households, who are able to respond to the test online, by phone, or by mail. The U.S. Census Bureau will test changes and enhancements planned for the 2030 Census in the real world and on a larger scale than research simulations allow. In 2028, a second test will serve as a dress rehearsal of census operations and handoffs between them.”
“The 2026 Census Test will take place in six sites within the continental United States: Western Texas (Brewster, Jeff Davis, Pecos, and Presidio counties); Tribal Lands Within Arizona (Fort Apache Reservation, home to the White Mountain Apache Tribe, and San Carlos Reservation, home to the San Carlos Apache Tribe); Colorado Springs, CO (selected areas within the metro area); Western North Carolina, (Cherokee, Graham, Jackson, and Swain counties, and Qualla Boundary, home to the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians); Spartanburg, SC (selected areas within the metro area); and Huntsville, AL (selected areas within the metro area). These locations were chosen because they possess particular characteristics that support the Census Bureau’s focus on six enhancement areas, including: making it easier for people to respond on their own online, by phone, or by mail; improving in-person household data collection; improving methods for counting people living in GQs; enhancing outreach efforts to create awareness and encourage responses; enhancing the infrastructure that supports census operations; and processing data concurrently with data collection.”
“The goals of the 2026 Census Test are to test operational viability of new and revamped systems and methods researched and developed for the census, to identify, document, and address potential challenges; and to evaluate the efficacy of proposed changes to ensure the overall quality of the 2030 Census design. Some decisions, including names of operations and workload estimates, have yet to be made as the Census Bureau is finalizing the test plans; however, at this time, the Census Bureau can present aspects of the test that affect the public.”
- Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for Review and Approval; Comment Request; 2026 Census Test-Peak Data Collection. https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/01/10/2025-00270/agency-information-collection-activities-submission-to-the-office-of-management-and-budget-omb-for
The Census Bureau is seeking public comment on “Peak Data
Collection” and the 2026 Census Test by March 11, 2025.The Federal Register Notice notes that the 2026 Census Test “is
the first of two major field tests planned to help the Census Bureau prepare
for the 2030 Census… it is a scaled-down version of the selected aspects of the
census conducted in six field sites across the nation.”The field test “also includes a nationally representative
sample of households, who are able to respond to the test online, by phone, or
by mail. The U.S. Census Bureau will test changes and enhancements planned for
the 2030 Census in the real world and on a larger scale than research
simulations allow. In 2028, a second test will serve as a dress rehearsal of
census operations and handoffs between them.”“The 2026 Census Test will take place in six sites within
the continental United States: Western Texas (Brewster, Jeff Davis, Pecos, and
Presidio counties); Tribal Lands Within Arizona (Fort Apache Reservation, home
to the White Mountain Apache Tribe, and San Carlos Reservation, home to the San
Carlos Apache Tribe); Colorado Springs, CO (selected areas within the metro
area); Western North Carolina, (Cherokee, Graham, Jackson, and Swain counties,
and Qualla Boundary, home to the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians);
Spartanburg, SC (selected areas within the metro area); and Huntsville, AL
(selected areas within the metro area). These locations were chosen because
they possess particular characteristics that support the Census Bureau’s focus
on six enhancement areas, including: making it easier for people to respond on
their own online, by phone, or by mail; improving in-person household data
collection; improving methods for counting people living in GQs; enhancing
outreach efforts to create awareness and encourage responses; enhancing the
infrastructure that supports census operations; and processing data
concurrently with data collection.”“The goals of the 2026 Census Test are to test operational
viability of new and revamped systems and methods researched and developed for
the census, to identify, document, and address potential challenges; and to
evaluate the efficacy of proposed changes to ensure the overall quality of the
2030 Census design. Some decisions, including names of operations and workload
estimates, have yet to be made as the Census Bureau is finalizing the test
plans; however, at this time, the Census Bureau can present aspects of the test
that affect the public.”– Agency
Information Collection Activities; Submission to the Office of Management and
Budget (OMB) for Review and Approval; Comment Request; 2026 Census Test-Peak
Data Collection. https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/01/10/2025-00270/agency-information-collection-activities-submission-to-the-office-of-management-and-budget-omb-for
