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Bureau plans to use mail carriers in census test already facing criticism
The pilot in Spartanburg, SC and Huntsville, AL will use 50 postal carriers to conduct in-person census interviews starting June 2026 to improve response rates.
- The U.S. Census Bureau is testing postal carriers in Spartanburg, South Carolina and Huntsville, Alabama, with invitations to 154,600 residents starting May 1, 2026, for the once-a-decade census.
- Supporters argue the plan leverages mail carriers' route knowledge and trust, while the Trump administration's last-minute changes have drawn criticism ahead of the 2026 test.
- In Spartanburg, 25 postal workers will knock on doors along their routes and identify themselves as postal workers, paid their normal U.S. Postal Service rate.
- A 2011 Government Accountability Office review found using postal carriers as census takers is not cost-effective compared to non-postal census takers .
- Confidentiality rules conflict as the Census Bureau said postal workers will follow its confidentiality provisions and take an 'oath for life,' but U.S. Postal Service rules allow disclosures and the 2018 pilot was canceled.
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13 Articles
13 Articles
U.S. Census Bureau to Conduct Pilot With U.S. Postal Service for 2026 Operational Test
In Huntsville, the Census Bureau will directly hire postal workers to collect responses outside of their USPS work hours. In Spartanburg, postal workers in the pilot will integrate census duties into their regular mail delivery routes during work hours.
Coverage Details
Total News Sources13
Leaning Left4Leaning Right2Center5Last UpdatedBias Distribution46% Center
Bias Distribution
- 46% of the sources are Center
46% Center
L 36%
C 46%
R 18%
Factuality
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