Upcoming Census Q & A for us all…….

 

Why do we take a census?

The decennial census is a Constitutionally-mandated headcount of everyone residing in the United States. This count is taken every ten years by the U.S. Bureau of the Census and the next census will be taken on April 1, 2010.

 

Why should I fill out the form?

Most importantly, everyone is required by law to complete the census form. But there are other reasons to participate in the census.

 

Being counted in the census is an excellent way to participate in the democratic process on which the country was founded. Just like jury duty and voting, participating in the census is an important part of civic duty. Congressional districts and local legislative districts are based on the decennial population count. Each district must include as equal a number of people as possible so that everyone is represented equally. By standing up and being counted on Census Day, you’re making sure that you receive equal representation, both in Congress and in the state legislature.

 

Census data are also used to distribute nearly $300 billion of federal funds each year to states and towns. These funds are used to provide vital services that benefit your community. States and towns will miss out on funds if all of their residents aren’t counted. By participating in the census you’re helping to ensure that the state and your community don’t miss out on federal funds.

 

What happens if I don’t complete the census form?

Everyone is required by law to complete the census form. Anyone over the age of 18 who refuses or willfully neglects to answer any of the questions on the census form can be fined up to $5,000, however, fines have rarely, if ever, been imposed due to the time and cost that would be involved in enforcing this penalty.

 

Who is included in the census count?

Everyone living in the United States on April 1, 2010 is included in the census count, regardless of immigration or citizenship status.

How are the data collected?

The Census Bureau spends years planning and preparing for each decennial census, but the first visible sign that the decennial census is getting close is the address canvassing operation. Address canvassing for Census 2010 began in April 2009 and wrapped up in July 2009. During address canvassing, census workers went door-to-door updating the address list that the Census Bureau will use to mail the census forms. Workers recorded the address and location of each house on GPS-enabled handheld computers.

 

The Census Bureau uses the address list compiled during address canvassing to mail out census forms in March 2010. Nearly everyone will receive their census form in the mail, but there are some exceptions. People who receive their mail at a Post Office will not receive a form in the mail. In addition, many people living in very rural areas will not receive a form by mail. Those households that do not receive a form in the mail will be visited by a census worker who will collect the information in person.

 

After giving people time to send back their census forms, the Census Bureau will begin its non-response follow-up operation in May 2010. The Census Bureau sends workers to any household that did not mail back a form and calls anyone whose form was mailed back incomplete. The Census Bureau will follow up multiple times with non-responsive households if necessary, and if unable to collect information from a household, they may go to neighbors and ask for information about the non-responsive household. They will also visit any households that were not mailed a form. Non-response follow-up will continue through July 2010.

 

The Census Bureau will hire around a million temporary workers beginning later this fall. Applicants must complete a written skills test and pass a background check. All workers are temporary employees of the U.S. Census Bureau and must swear an oath promising to keep census data confidential.

 

Are my responses to the census confidential?

All individual responses to the census are confidential and protected by law, as are addresses and phone numbers. All census employees take an oath for life to protect this confidential information, and disclosure of any confidential information can result in a five-year prison sentence, a $250,000 fine, or both. Individual responses cannot be shared with anyone, even other federal agencies or the president himself, for 72 years after the census is taken.

 

Will someone come to my door asking questions?

There are a few circumstances where you might have a census worker at your door. The most common is for households who received a form through the mail and neglected to complete it and mail it back. In this case, a census worker will come to your door to collect the information. Census workers are identifiable by an official Census Bureau badge. When in doubt, you can verify the identity of a census worker by calling the Boston Regional Office at 1-800-562-5721.

 

There are also some people who will not receive a form in the mail. Census workers will visit households who receive their mail at a Post Office. These households will not receive a census form in the mail because the Census Bureau needs to be able to connect physical addresses with completed forms. Also, some people live in areas so remote that they are difficult to reach. For these people, the Census Bureau will send out workers to both collect information and update addresses at the same time. 

 

What questions are asked on the census form?

The form that everyone will receive for Census 2010 is ten questions long and should take an average household less than ten minutes to complete. In addition to the number of people in the household and whether the home is rented or owned, the form asks for each person’s name, relationship to the head of household, sex, age and date of birth, Hispanic origin, race, and whether they sometimes live or stay somewhere else. The form also asks for a phone number in case follow-up is required. The form does not ask for social security numbers, citizenship status, income, or employment status. All questions on the final census form have been approved by Congress.

 

Who can I contact for more information?

The best resource for information on the decennial census is the U.S. Census Bureau’s website: http://2010.census.gov. The Census Bureau’s Boston Regional Office coordinates census activities for the region and can be contacted at 1-800-562-5721. You can also contact Amanda Rector, Maine State Planning Office, at Amanda.K.Rector@Maine.gov or 287-6077.