The U.S. Census Bureau announced on Mar. 23 that it has chosen Huntsville, Alabama, and Spartanburg, South Carolina, as the sites for its upcoming 2026 Census Test. The test aims to explore new methods of data collection by working with the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) and refining in-field enumeration processes ahead of the 2030 Census.
The selection of these locations is intended to help the Census Bureau assess how partnerships with USPS could improve response rates and operational efficiency during future censuses. The results will inform potential nationwide strategies for reaching households that do not respond on their own.
Beginning May 1, about 154,600 households in both cities will be invited to complete the census test online using computers or mobile devices. Responses by phone or mail will not be accepted for this test phase. The questions asked will mirror those from the American Community Survey, covering topics such as name, race, sex, citizenship status, and education level.
For households that do not self-respond by June 1—when in-person follow-up begins—census takers including postal workers may visit homes to collect responses until August 31 when data collection ends. All collected information remains confidential under federal law.
The pilot program differs between sites: In Huntsville, postal workers will be hired as temporary Census Bureau employees working outside their regular USPS hours; in Spartanburg, postal workers will gather census responses during their normal mail delivery routes as part of their USPS duties while wearing uniforms and clearly identifying themselves.
This collaboration is designed to leverage local knowledge held by postal workers while evaluating whether such an approach can reduce field workloads and costs through fewer required visits per household. The findings from this test are expected to shape innovations planned for the next decennial count.
