March 31, 2020 (New York, NY) -- Tomorrow marks Census Day 2020--meaning that every home will have received an invitation to participate in the census by tomorrow, April 1, 2020. Once your invitation arrives, you should respond for your home in one of three ways:
online, by phone, or by mail.
In order to ensure that every Sikh household participates in the 2020 Census, the Sikh Coalition has created two videos with step-by-step instructions in English and Punjabi on how to submit your responses online:
How to fill out the 2020 U.S. Census [English]
How to fill out the 2020 U.S. Census [Punjabi]
As a reminder, the census is a national headcount that happens every ten years, and every household in the country is required by law to thoroughly and accurately fill out the census. It is very important for Sikh Americans to participate, because the data that comes from this count is used to allocate money for resources (including schools, roads, and hospitals), help businesses make decisions about where to invest and create jobs, and determine political representation like electoral college votes.
Read our Community FAQ for more information about the census, including how census data is used by the government and questions pertaining to the “Sikh” write-in option.
Everyone can and should fill out the census–including citizens, permanent residents, and undocumented persons. The Census Bureau will never ask about your social security number, citizenship status, or political views, nor will they ask for money. If someone claiming to be a Census Bureau employee approaches you with these or other suspicious questions, please contact
community@sikhcoalition.org. Additionally, you can
visit our website for more resources about the census in both English and Punjabi.
As always, the Sikh Coalition urges you to practice your faith fearlessly.