US Census 2020 Neighborhood Address Canvassing August 4th-October 18th
The U.S. Census Bureau is canvassing addresses through October.

U.S. Census Bureau Sends Workers to Verify Addresses

Author: Administrative Office
Date: 8/22/2019 4:45:06 PM

SLO County residents may notice census address canvassers in their neighborhood beginning this week through mid-October of 2019 to verify addresses.


SLO County residents may notice census address canvassers in their neighborhood beginning this week through mid-October of 2019 to verify addresses. While the County is not directly involved in these activities, it is a normal part of the 2020 Census preparation and data collection process.

During this time period and in the Spring of 2020, you might see census address canvassers or census takers in your neighborhood for a few different reasons:

  • They are verifying addresses in preparation for the census.
  • They are collecting responses to the census or another survey.
  • They are dropping off census materials.
  • They are conducting quality checks on the census.

According to the Census Bureau, census takers who verify addresses are called address canvassers and help ensure an accurate and complete count by verifying address lists across a wide area of physical geography, housing structures, and residence types. Part of this effort involves census takers on the ground noting where houses, apartments, shelters, and other residences are located. Address canvassers will attempt to knock on every door in the neighborhood they are canvassing.

Census takers will begin visiting homes in 2020 to collect responses from those who did not respond online, by phone, or by mail. At the same time, there will be other surveys ongoing, such as the American Community Survey, so there will also be census field representatives visiting homes for other reasons as well.

Verify the Identity of a Census Worker

​If you are visited at home by someone from the U.S. Census Bureau, you can verify their identity by checking to make sure they are carrying a required ID badge. This badge includes a photograph of the field representative, a Department of Commerce watermark, and an expiration date. Census workers may be carrying a Census Bureau phone or a laptop as well as a bag with a Census Bureau logo.

Census field representatives will continue to collect information for the American Community Survey (ACS) and other ongoing surveys but will never ask for certain information, including your Social Security number, bank account number, or credit card numbers.

If you still have questions, call 800-923-8282 to speak with a local Census Bureau representatives.