The 2026 Census Test is a critical opportunity for the Census Bureau to field test and refine its outreach and operational methods to help ensure a fair and accurate 2030 Census and reduce the undercount of historically and persistently undercounted communities. On February 3, 2026, the Census Bureau published a registro Federal Notice (FRN) seeking public comment on the 2026 Census Test. The proposals in this FRN significantly scale back the test’s scope and sample size, and include serious methodological issues that will prevent the test from yielding useful information to improve 2030 Census operations. Proposed changes include:
- Reducing the planned field testing sites from six to just two (Spartanburg, SC and Huntsville, AL) and eliminate the national sample component of the test
- Utilizing the American Community Survey (ACS) rather than the decennial census questionnaire
- Only testing Internet Self-Response (eliminating testing of other self-response modes), and only in English.
- Testing U.S. Postal Service staff to conduct in-field enumeration.
See HERE for a complete list of changes compared to the scope for the 2026 test proposed in January, 2025.
USE THIS TEMPLATE TO DRAFT AND SUBMIT YOUR COMMENTS!
Customize the content in this template to fit your organization’s priorities for the 2026 Test and submit your comments through the regulations.gov portal by the March 5, 2026 deadline.
