The 2026 Census Test was to occur in six sites nationwide to help the Census Bureau improve the accuracy of the 2030 Census. A recent Federal Register notice announced the Bureau’s intention to reduce the test to only two sites and curtail other critical facets of the test’s original design.
Two census stakeholder organizations are currently soliciting signatures on letters expressing concern about how these changes could ultimately impact the conduct of the 2030 Census and the quality of decennial census data.
Both letters express concern about proposed changes to the Test, including:
- Use of the American Community Survey (ACS) questionnaire rather than the decennial census form.
- Scaling back from six to two proposed field test sites and elimination of the national sample and Group Quarters components of the test.
- Testing the use of U.S. Postal Service employees to conduct in-field enumeration.
- Internet self-response (ISR) available in English only, and elimination of testing of other self-response modes.
- Elimination of community partnership engagement and testing of Mobile Questionnaire Assistance (MQA) centers and phone-based Census Questionnaire Assistance (CQA).
The Population Association of America
- The letter is posted here and the sign-on form is posted here.
- The deadline is 5:30 p.m. ET on March 2.
The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights
- The Leadership Conference letter is posted here and the sign-on form is posted here.
- The deadline is 5:30pm ET on March 4.
Both PAA and LCCHR are accepting organizational signatures only (not individuals) and encourage stakeholders to share the sign-on opportunities with other organizations.
