2018 Census End-to-End Test Issue Brief #1: Importance and Risks

The 2018 End-to-End (E2E) Test is fundamental to the 2020 Census’ goal: “to count everyone once, only once and in the right place.” The E2E “dress rehearsal” is the last, most comprehensive test before early 2020 Census operations begin in 2019. Yet, this test is not a true dress rehearsal compared to previous censuses. It has been pared down, including through cuts to outreach programs aiming to get out the count, and all planned dress rehearsal locations were cancelled except for Providence County, Rhode Island.