Frequently Asked Questions
- What if I lose the questionnaire?
- Are Questionnaire Assistance Centers (QACs) setup in each individual town or countywide? How are the sites selected?
- How do I get questionnaire in a different language?
- When will Census questionnaires be delivered?
- What is a Census Taker?
- When do Census questionnaires need to be returned?
- Is a name required for questionnaire?
- Can I fill out the Census questionnaire online?
- How do Community organizations doing outreach for the Census handle people's concerns about their information being given to landlords or other government agencies such as Immigration or law enforceme
- How do I know the census questionnaire I received is not counterfeit?
- How can I keep my information safe?
- What is the difference between Questionnaire Assistance Centers (QACs) and "Be Counted sites"?
- Can people volunteer to work at Questionnaire Assistance Centers (QACs)?
- What aids/assistance will be available to complete the questionnaire?
- How are Homeless people counted?
- Are copies of the Powerpoint slides from the twenty State-wide Convenings available?
- How are people with disabilities addressed?
- Local ethnic Media is critical-How is the Census going to support these efforts?
- Why do we need to be counted?
What if I lose the questionnaire?
If you have lost or misplaced your questionnaire, call the Telephone Questionnaire Assistance Center at 1-866-872-6868. (If you prefer a Spanish-speaking operator, then dial 1-866-928-2010.) The lines will be open from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. (your local time) seven days a week from February 25, 2010 through July 31, 2010. For the hearing-impaired, TDD 1-866-783-2010 (during the times noted above).
Are Questionnaire Assistance Centers (QACs) setup in each individual town or countywide? How are the sites selected?
Questionnaire Assistance Centers will be established in many areas that have been identified as hard to count areas. An average of 63-75 QACs will be established within the geography of each Local Census Office.
How do I get questionnaire in a different language?
Language Assistance Guides are available in 59 different languages to help people fill out the English version of the census questionnaire. Also, both English and English/Spanish versions of the census questionnaire will be available. In addition, the census provides other guides to help ensure questionnaires are filled out. These include Large Print Assistance Guides, Braille Assistance Guides and a Language Reference Dictionary. These guides are available on the web at: http://2010.census.gov/partners/materials/inlanguage.php
When will Census questionnaires be delivered?
In areas served by the United States Postal Service, postal workers will deliver the initial mailing in mid-March, 2010. In all other areas, census takers will deliver the form packages between March 1 and April 30, 2010.
What is a Census Taker?
By being counted you are standing up for your community's needs. This is why census takers are so important. A census taker is a person from your community who is hired by the Census Bureau to make sure that your neighborhood gets represented as accurately as possible. The census taker's primary responsibility is to collect census information from residences that have not sent back their 2010 Census form.
- The Census Bureau provides the census taker with a binder containing all of the addresses that did not send back a filled out census form
- The census taker then visits all of those addresses and records the answers to the questions on the form
- If no one answers at a particular residence, a census taker will visit that home up to three times, each time leaving a door hanger featuring a phone number; residents can call the number on the hanger to schedule the visit
The census taker will ONLY ask the questions that appear on the census form.
When do Census questionnaires need to be returned?
Since the questionnaires are simple, they should be completed immediately upon receipt and then returned—the same day if possible. Beginning in May 2010, census takers will visit households that do not return forms to take a count in person. The Census Bureau does not send out any confirmations that your form was received.
Is a name required for questionnaire?
Yes, a name is required for every person who is living in your household including children.
Can I fill out the Census questionnaire online?
No, not this time. The United States Census Bureau is experimenting with Internet response options for the future.
How do Community organizations doing outreach for the Census handle people's concerns about their information being given to landlords or other government agencies such as Immigration or law enforceme
Many in the community, including undocumented immigrants and others, may be reluctant to voluntarily provide personal information to the government in an age of identity theft and immigration challenges. They may fear their census responses will be used against them in a detrimental manner. It is important to convey that all responses provided on the 2010 Census questionnaire or to a Census Bureau employee are confidential and protected under Title 13 of the United States Code. Under this law, no individual or agency (federal, state or local) can have access to any information that will tie the respondent to his or her responses. In simple terms, this means NO IRS, NO IMMIGRATION, NO CIA, NO FBI, NO POLICE, NO WELFARE, NO COURT, NO HOMELAND SECURITY, NO FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT, NOT EVEN THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES can access and identify any individual and the responses provided. The results from the census are reported in statistical format only.
Individual records from the decennial censuses are confidential for 72 years, by law (Title 44, United States Code). Any person can request information to prove his or her age and residency, but NO ONE ELSE CAN DO THIS FOR ANOTHER PERSON.
Furthermore, under Title 13, United States Code, ALL Census Bureau employees have lifetime-sworn status. It is a felony for any Census Bureau employee to disclose any confidential census information whether during or after employment and the penalty for wrongful disclosure is up to five years imprisonment and/or a fine of $250,000.
How do I know the census questionnaire I received is not counterfeit?
Any request for census information from the Census Bureau will be clearly identified as coming from the U.S. Census Bureau and as OFFICIAL BUSINESS of the United States. Approximately one week before your household receives a mailed form, you will receive a letter from the Director of the U.S. Census Bureau, stating that your household will receive a 2010 Census form in the mail.
How can I keep my information safe?
The easiest way to keep your information safe is to fill out your census questionnaire and mail it back right away. Also, look for identification from census takers and remember that the Census Bureau will NEVER ask for any information to be submitted online.
What is the difference between Questionnaire Assistance Centers (QACs) and "Be Counted sites"?
- A Questionnaire Assistance Center (QAC) is a place in the community where people may go to get assistance in filling out their questionnaire. Space for these sites is donated by community groups and organizations and staffed by Census Bureau employees. Questionnaire Assistance Centers are open from March 19th-April 19th of 2010.
- Be Counted sites are locations in high-traffic areas of the community where people may pick up a Be Counted form if they did not receive a questionnaire, or believe they were not included on the questionnaire returned for their house. Examples of Be Counted sites may be libraries, 7-Elevens or other convenience stores, community centers, etc. Be Counted forms will also be available at Questionnaire Assistance Centers. Be Counted forms are census forms that are available at various community locations for use by people who either did not receive a form in the mail or whose information was not collected on any other form. Be Counted forms are available in English, Spanish, Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese and Russian. These forms can be picked up in various community locations and mailed back in the attached postage-paid envelope.
Can people volunteer to work at Questionnaire Assistance Centers (QACs)?
No, in order to work at a QAC you must be employed by the United States Census Bureau. This allows the United States Census Bureau to insure confidentiality is maintained with your census information. Under Title 13, United States Code, ALL Census Bureau employees have lifetime-sworn status. It is a felony for any Census Bureau employee to disclose any confidential census information whether during or after employment and the penalty for wrongful disclosure is up to five years imprisonment and/or a fine of $250,000.
What aids/assistance will be available to complete the questionnaire?
Assistance is available at Questionnaire Assistance Centers and Telephone Questionnaire Assistance Centers, which are staffed by Census Bureau employees.
Language Assistance Guides will be available in 59 languages to assist in completion of the questionnaire.
Questionnaire Assistance Centers are open from March 19th-April 19th of 2010.
The Telephone Questionnaire Assistance Center may be reached at 1-866-872-6868. (If you prefer a Spanish-speaking operator, then dial 1-866-928-2010.) The lines will be open from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. (your local time) seven days a week from February 25, 2010 through July 31, 2010. For the hearing-impaired, TDD 1-866-783-2010 (during the times noted above).
How are Homeless people counted?
These can be challenging times for many people. Based on this understanding, the United States Census Bureau created the Service Based Enumeration (SBE) operation. The SBE is designed to provide an opportunity for people experiencing some form of displacement or lack of permanent address to be included in the census, by counting them at service-based locations, such as homeless shelters, soup kitchens, etc. In addition, the Census Bureau is identifying other locations where the homeless are living and will count them in those locations as well. These may be open areas, under bridges, wherever the homeless live. The Be Counted form is another way people can take part in the census. Be Counted forms are census forms that are available at various community locations for use by people who either did not receive a census form in the mail or who believe they were not otherwise included on any other census form.
Are copies of the Powerpoint slides from the twenty State-wide Convenings available?
Yes. Please email info@census.ca.gov and state the Convening for which you would like a copy.
How are people with disabilities addressed?
Individuals with disabilities may receive assistance filling out their questionnaire from the Questionnaire Assistance Centers (QAC), which are open from March 19th-April 19th of 2010.
The Census questionnaire is available in Braille and can be printed now if needed. Individuals who have printers capable of printing in Braille may download the questionnaire from the website at: http://2010.census.gov/partners/materials/inlanguage.php Large Print and Braille Assistance Guides are also available to download from the same website. A central phone line will be available in the near future to order a Braille Census questionnaire.
Also, a Telephone Display Device (TDD) line is available for the hearing impaired (see below).
People who have difficulty reaching a Questionnaire Assistance Center (QAC) can use the Telephone Questionnaire Assistance Centers, staffed by Census Bureau employees. The Telephone Questionnaire Assistance Center may be reached at 1-866-872-6868. (If you prefer a Spanish-speaking operator, then dial 1-866-928-2010.) The lines will be open from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. (your local time) seven days a week from February 25, 2010 through July 31, 2010. For the hearing-impaired, TDD 1-866-783-2010 (during the times noted above).
Local ethnic Media is critical-How is the Census going to support these efforts?
Over half (51%) of the advertising budget will be directed toward local outlets. The Census Bureau has developed a coordinated and integrated communications plan utilizing Draft FCB as the major provider. During the early fall local ethnic media were encouraged to submit their plans for earned media, focused on the January through April timeframe.
Why do we need to be counted?
The United States Constitution requires that the entire population of the United States is counted every ten years. Important decisions are made based on this count. The number of seats each state is given in the Unites States House of Representatives is based on the count from the Census. Also, the information the census collects helps to determine how over $400 billion dollars of federal funding each year is spent on infrastructure and services such as:
- Hospitals
- Job training centers
- Schools
- Senior centers
- Bridges, tunnels and other-public works projects
- Emergency services
This information is also used for:
- Redistricting of state legislative districts.
- Designing facilities for people with disabilities, the elderly and children.
- Forecasting of future transportation needs for all segments of the population
- Determining areas eligible for housing assistance and rehabilitation loans.
- Assisting federal, tribal, state and local governments in planning and implementing programs and services in education, healthcare, transportation, social services and emergency response (such as those mentioned above).
