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2010 U.S. Census is underway - do your part to encourage participation
3/9/2010
2010 U.S. Census is
underway - do your part to encourage participation
Most of the nation's 120 million households, about 90 percent of the
U.S. population, will receive the 10-question census form by mail in
mid-March. But the Census Bureau wants everyone counted, so about
56,000 census workers have begun hand delivering 2010 Census
questionnaires to roughly 12 million addresses across the nation,
mostly in rural areas, where people do not receive mail at the same
location as their residence. While the majority of areas covered by
this operation are rural, the Census Bureau also is delivering forms by
hand to Gulf Coast areas affected by Hurricane Katrina to ensure
everyone is included in the once-a-decade count.
"Regardless of whether your census form gets dropped off at your front
door or you receive it in your mailbox, it’s important that you fill it
out and mail it back as soon as possible," said Census Bureau Director
Robert M. Groves. "With only 10 questions, the 2010 Census should only
take about 10 minutes to complete." Forms can be returned in the
postage-paid envelope.
In 2000, about 72 percent of the population mailed back their census
forms, halting a three-decade decline in the national mail
participation rate. Mailing in the forms saves money since it reduces
the number of census takers that must go door-to-door to follow up with
households that failed to do so. The Census Bureau saves about $85
million in operational costs for every percentage point increase in the
national mail response rate.
All census responses are confidential. Answers are protected by law and
cannot be shared with anyone. The Census Bureau takes extreme measures
to protect the identity of individuals and businesses. By law, the
Census Bureau cannot share respondents' individually identifiable
answers with anyone, including tribal housing authorities, other
federal agencies and law enforcement entities.
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