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The purpose of the Post-Enumeration Survey is to measure the accuracy of the census. The survey measures the accuracy of the census by independently surveying a sample of the population.
The U.S. Census Bureau has used post-enumeration surveys with dual system estimation to measure coverage in the Decennial Censuses of Population and Housing since 1980. This approach involves case-by-case matching of people in an independent survey with people in the census to determine who was missed or counted in error.
The post-enumeration survey-based coverage measurement program associated with the 2020 Census was called the Post-Enumeration Survey (PES).
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The 2020 PES was designed to support national-level and state-level estimates of census coverage.
The primary goal of the 2020 Post-Enumeration Survey (PES) program was to measure coverage error in the 2020 Census. Fieldwork for the 2020 PES began in January 2020 and ended in February 2022.
Although we undertake extensive efforts to accurately count everyone in the decennial census, sometimes people are missed or duplicated.
The Post-Enumeration Survey: Measuring Coverage Error
Census Bureau Today Releases 2020 Census Undercount, Overcount Rates by State
Who Was Undercounted, Overcounted in the 2020 Census?
Despite Efforts, Census Undercount of Young Children Persists
2020 PES Coverage Results in the Vintage 2023 Population Estimates
Although we undertake extensive efforts to accurately count everyone in the decennial census, sometimes people are missed or duplicated.
The 2020 Post-Enumeration Survey provides an estimate of the undercount or overcount results for each state and by census operation.
The 2020 PES Source and Accuracy statements describe the source of the PES data collected and the accuracy of estimates produced by the survey.
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