The Electronic Response Data Transfer (eResponse) system for the Group Quarters operation involves the electronic transfer of group quarters (GQ) address and respondent-level data from records maintained by GQ administrators. The eResponse enumeration allows the facility to respond to the 2018 Census Test without requiring a personal visit by a Census Bureau worker. During eResponse, the GQ contact person will be asked to complete a few security questions. The eResponse site will then generate a PIN. The PIN, along with the User ID, is used to log into the eResponse system and submit resident-level data for the specific group quarters facility to the Census Bureau secured site.

The Census Bureau is required by law to protect your information (Title 13, U.S. Code, Section 9). The Census Bureau is not permitted to publicly release your responses in a way that could identify you or your facility. We are conducting the census under the authority of Title 13, U.S. Code, Sections 141, 193, 221, and 223. Federal law protects your privacy and keeps your answers confidential (Title 13, U.S. Code, Section 9). Per the Federal Cybersecurity Enhancement Act of 2015, your data are protected from cybersecurity risks through screening of the systems that transmit your data. All web data submissions are encrypted in order to protect your privacy.

For more information about how we protect your information, please visit our website at census.gov and click on "Data Protection and Privacy Policy" at the bottom of the home page. This page also includes information about the collection, storage, and use of these records; click on "System of Records Notices (SORN)" and look for Privacy Act System of Records Notice COMMERCE/CENSUS-5, Decennial Census Program.

You are not required to select eResponse as your mode of enumeration. This method allows the facility to respond to the 2018 Census Test without a personal visit by a Census Bureau worker and provides the facility the opportunity to provide sensitive data through a secure method. You may select one of the other types of enumeration options available during the Group Quarters Enumeration.

In-person Interview: A Census Bureau worker will conduct a face-to-face, interview with each person who was served or was staying at the facility on Census Day. This option is available to both SBE-GQ’s and non-SBE GQ’s.

Drop Off/Pick Up of Questionnaire: A Census Bureau worker will leave census questionnaires with the GQ contact person for them to distribute to each person who was served or staying at the facility on Census Day. Then, a Census Bureau worker will pick up the completed questionnaires from the contact person on another agreed upon time.

Facility Self-Enumeration: A Census Bureau worker will swear in and train the GQ contact person, and leave a census questionnaire package to conduct the enumeration for each person who was living or staying at the facility on Census Day. A Census Bureau worker will return to pick up the questionnaires at an agreed upon time. Only correctional and health care facilities can select this option.

Paper Response Data Collection: A Census Bureau worker will meet with the GQ contact person of the facility to obtain a paper listing of census response data for each person who was served or staying at the facility on Census Day. Shelters and non-service-based GQs will be allowed to select this method.

The eResponse website will be open for the GQ administrator (or GQ contact person) to submit data from July 30, 2018, through August 24, 2018.

The data requested for each person are name, sex, date of birth, age on Census Day, Hispanic origin, race, and an alternate address where the person lives or stays when not at the facility.

The eResponse template for the 2018 Census Test will take approximately 20 minutes per facility if you are answering for multiple group quarter facilities.

The eResponse website address is respond.census.gov/gqe. The eResponse website will be open for the GQ administrator (or GQ contact person) to upload data from July 30, 2018 through August 24, 2018.

No, eResponse will only accept GQ address and respondent-level data entered into the Census Bureau template. All other formats will be rejected.

The GQ administrator (or GQ contact person) will receive a confirmation after submission has passed all Census Bureau data checks.

The administrator will be given one opportunity to correct any errors.

No. Once the template has been accepted, no changes may be made.

For questions or concerns with the eResponse template, please contact the Census Bureau at 301-763-9333.

If you are experiencing technical issues with eResponse, please contact the Census Bureau at 1-800-528-3049.

Yes, your participation is mandatory. The U.S. Constitution directs the Census Bureau to conduct a complete count of all people living in the United States every 10 years. Census information helps in determining how federal, state, local, and tribal governments make decisions affecting the people of this country and how over $675 billion of taxpayers’ money are allocated by the government. Participating in the census is in everyone’s best interest. People who answer the census help their communities obtain state and federal funding for neighborhood improvements, such as deciding where to build schools, hospitals, and roads, or about services for the elderly, job training, and more. The best way to make sure that everyone in your facility is counted in the census is to encourage individuals living or staying in your facility to participate with Census Bureau workers in filling out the form or for you to provide a paper listing or upload a completed eResponse template with requested data for all individuals living or staying in your facility.