Majority of Americans willing to complete census

Over half of participants ( 58%) said they “definitely will participate” in the decennial census next year, according to an online survey from non-partisan organisation the Committee to Protect Article 1 of the Constitution.

However, four in 10 overall are unsure about the census, with the research finding that this uncertainty was higher among young adults, Asian-American, African-American and Muslim-American groups.

Young adults were the least likely of all age groups to say they would definitely take part in the national survey ( 29% of 18-24s and 52% of 25-34s), with willingness to participate increasing with age.

Over half ( 53%) of both Muslim-Americans and Black or African-Americans surveyed said they would definitely take part, compared to 63% of Spanish-speaking Latinos, 58% of English-speaking Latinos and fewer than half ( 49%) of Asian-Americans.

Almost half ( 49%) of participants agreed with the statement ‘The government will do whatever it wants regardless of the data’, with this sentiment over 50% among Latinos, African-Americans, Muslim-Americans and young adults aged 18-34.

Meanwhile, a third ( 35%) agree that ‘My personal information will be used against me by the government’ – increasing to 50% of Muslim Americans. 

Between 3^rd-24^th October, Article 1 conducted an online survey with 1,499 members of the general population, with over-sample of 300 English-speaking Latinos, 300 Spanish-speaking Latinos, 400 Muslim-Americans, and 200 Asian-Americans. The margin of error for the general population is +/-2.5%, and the margin of error is higher for the different subgroups.