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2010 Census
Be Counted on April 1, 2010
On April 1, it’s important to fill out and return your Census form. Why? Because you can help bring back millions of dollars in federal funds for schools, roads and health care in Augusta, GA. When you respond to the Census, you’re helping to fund local services and programs that make a difference in our community.
What: The census is a count of everyone living in the United States.
Who: Everyone must be counted—both citizens and non citizens.
When: Your census form should be mailed back by April 1, 2010. They will be mailed or hand delivered to you starting in March 2010.
Why: The U.S. Constitution requires a national census once every 10 years to count the population. The census determines the number of seats each state will have in the U.S. House of Representatives. Census data also helps determine how the federal government allocates more than $400 billion to local communities every year.
How: Households should complete and mail back their census form after they get it. It’s only 10 questions that should take about 10 minutes to answer. Households that do not respond may receive a replacement form in early April. Census takers will visit households that do not return questionnaires to take a count in person.
Privacy and Confidentiality of Your Information
When you fill out the census form, your personal information will only be used to produce statistics. Federal law protects your information from being shared with anyone—including government agencies. Your answers are kept private by federal law
By law, your answers cannot be shared with anyone. This includes the courts and government agencies, such as the police, immigration, or welfare. Even the president of the United States cannot see your answers.
It is against the law to share or publish any information from your census form, including:
- Name
- Address
- Telephone number
All U.S. Census Bureau employees take an oath for life to keep your information confidential. They can face a fine of up to $250,000 or five years in prison—or both—for disclosing your answers.
Why does the census form ask for your telephone number?
The Census Bureau may need it to clarify your answers. If you give your telephone number, they can ask you questions without having to send a census worker to your home. Your telephone number is kept confidential, as are all your answers. By law, your information cannot be shared with any government agency.
What can I do to help keep my information safe?
The easiest way to keep your information safe is to fill out your census form 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.