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1 1 (April 1, 2026)

handle is hein.crs/govetyd0001 and id is 1 raw text is: The 2026 Census Test: Overview and Recent Developments April 1, 2026 The U.S. Census Bureau begins planning for an upcoming decennial census of population and housing more than a decade prior to the census year. Part ofthis planning includes field tests designed to assess various operational features of the upcoming decennial census. For example, during the 2020 decennial census cycle, the Census Bureau conducted several small-scale tests beginning in 2013, as well as the major 2019 census test, which among other things addressed the effect of a proposed citizenship question on self-response rates. For the 2030 decennial census cycle, the Census Bureau has ongoing small-scale testing as well as a planned 2026 census test and 2028 dress rehearsal. The Census Bureau began releasing initial plans for the 2026 census test in the spring of 2024 under the Biden Administration. The initial test sites as well as testing objectives were announced in July 2024. The Trump Administration released revised plans for the 2026 census test in February 2026, and released additional details in March 2026. 2026 Census Test Plan On February 3, 2026, the Census Bureau released a Federal Register (FR) notice announcing plans for the 2026 operational test. The test will be conducted using the American Community Survey (ACS) Methods Panel, which will use the ACS questionnaire to help the Census Bureau prepare for the 2030 Census. All questions from the ACS will be featured in the self-response portion of the test, according to supporting material. According to the Census Bureau, the questions are expected to take around 40 minutes to complete and include name, race, sex, citizenship, and education. The test will evaluate and assess the viability of using United States Postal Service (USPS) workers for in-field enumeration operations to increase efficiency in various capacities typically performed by temporary Census Bureau field workers. Other in-field enumeration operations featured in the test include technical enhancements to mobile devices used by enumerators with the goal of streamlining data collection, reducing time in the field, and improving data accuracy. The Census Bureau previously considered a pilot for the 2018 end-to-end census test to use USPS letter carriers as Census Bureau enumerators, but ultimately did not undertake the pilot due to concerns about conflicting administrative processes within the two agencies. Congressional Research Service https://crsreports.congress.gov IN12676 CRS INSIGHT Prepared for Members and Committees of Congress