Frequently Asked Questions

1. How do I know that the Census worker at my door is really employed with the U.S. Census Bureau?
2. What if I have not received or have misplaced my census questionnaire?
3. In what areas of Florida can residents expect a U.S. Census Bureau employee to arrive at their door to collect the census questionnaire data?
4. Exactly who is counted during the census count?
5. How many questions will the 2010 Census entail?
6. How secure and confidential is my census information?
7. Does the Census Bureau share information with the Immigration and Naturalization Service, the Internal Revenue Service, courts, or the police?
8. What does decennial mean?
9. When and how will the census take place?
10. How does the Census Bureau know which language-version of the questionnaire to send me?
11. How does census information affect my community?
12. In regards to the census, how is Florida unique?
13. What is a Complete Count Committee?
14. What is apportionment?
15. What is address canvassing?

1. How do I know that the Census worker at my door is really employed with the U.S. Census Bureau?

The Census worker will ONLY ask the questions that appear on the census form and carry an official government badge marked with just their name; they may also have a "U.S. Census Bureau" bag. They will NEVER ask to enter your home. The Census Bureau employees are sworn for life to protect your data under federal law. The Census Bureau worker will carry a flashcard with more than 50 languages so that if a resident does not speak English, he or she can point to one of these languages and a new census taker will be assigned appropriately. Click here to view a flyer on how to identify a census taker.

If you are still unsure of the legitimacy of the worker, you can confirm their identification by contacting your Regional Census Center at (404)-335-1555 or your Regional Partnership Group at (404)-335-1467.

2. What if I have not received or have misplaced my census questionnaire?

Residents may call 1-866-872-6868 toll free (Telephone Questionnaire Assistance Center) to provide information over the phone up until July 30th. Census enumerators will start going door-to-door in May 2010. The door-to-door-enumeration process takes place during the months of May, June, and July. The Census Bureau provides the census taker with a binder containing all of the addresses that didn't 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. The census taker who collects your information is sworn for life to protect your data under Federal Law Title 13. Those who violate the oath face criminal penalties: Under federal law, the penalty for unlawful disclosure is a fine of up to $250,000 or imprisonment for up to 5 years, or both.

3. In what areas of Florida can residents expect a U.S. Census Bureau employee to arrive at their door to collect the census questionnaire data?

The Census Bureau will begin composing their Non-response Follow-up list during the week of April 19, for households that did not mail-back their census questionnaire. If the U.S. Census Bureau does not receive your household’s questionnaire by the time the Non-response Follow-up list is composed, a census enumerator will likely come to your household to collect your census information.

There are also selected areas in Florida where an enumerator is already scheduled to come to the door. These areas are referred to as “Update/Enumerate” areas. The coastal area of the Florida Panhandle and much of Monroe County are Update/Enumerate areas in Florida. Click here (8 MB PDF) to view a map of the types of enumeration areas in Florida.

4. Exactly who is counted during the census count?

The census is a count of everyone residing in the United States: in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, the Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands, and America Samoa. This count includes people of all ages, races, ethnic groups – both citizens and non-citizens.

5. How many questions will the 2010 Census entail?

The 2010 Census questionnaire has 10 easy questions for the head-of-household. For each additional person living in the household, there are seven of the same questions asked to the head-of-household. The simple, short questionnaire takes only minutes to complete and return by mail.

6. How secure and confidential is my census information?

Your census information is very secure. Every Census Bureau worker takes an oath for life to protect the confidentiality of census responses. Violation would result in a jail term of up to five years and/or a fine up to $250,000. By law, the Census Bureau cannot share an individual’s answers with anyone.

7. Does the Census Bureau share information with the Immigration and Naturalization Service, the Internal Revenue Service, courts, or the police?

No, individual census records are not shared with anyone, including government agencies or private organizations. It is unlawful for the Census Bureau to give personally identifiable information about an individual to any other individual or agency for 72 years after it is collected. After 72 years, the individual census records are sent to the National Archives where they are made public primarily for genealogical research.

8. What does decennial mean?

Decennial means every 10 years. Therefore, the census is called the “decennial census” because it occurs every 10 years.

9. When and how will the census take place?

In late February 2010, census questionnaires are mailed or delivered to households. Questionnaires are due by Census Day, April 1, 2010. Households that do not return completed questionnaire by mail will be visited by census takers between April 2010 and July 2010. The census takers will physically knock on the doors of households that did not respond to the initial mail-back questionnaire to obtain the required census information. By December 2010 the Census Bureau delivers population counts to the President for apportionment, the process of proportionately dividing the 435 seats in the U.S. House of Representatives among the 50 states.

10. How does the Census Bureau know which language-version of the questionnaire to send me?

The census questionnaire is available in six primary languages: English, Spanish, Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese, and Russian. Additionally, Telephone Assistance Centers (TACs) will be available for people to request a questionnaire in one of these six languages. Questionnaire Assistance Centers (QACs) will be available around the state to offer assistance to people who may need support in understanding the census form. Language Assistance Guides are available in more than 51 languages and are available through TACs and QACs. Additionally, in neighborhoods where English is not the prominent language, residents will receive census questionnaires in the prominent language of the community.

11. How does census information affect my community?

Census data is used to determine the need for social services, including community development block grants and other grant programs essential to many communities. Census information helps determine locations for schools, roads, hospitals, child-care and senior centers, and more.

12. In regards to the census, how is Florida unique?

Florida’s population is diverse and changes seasonally. The people who reside in Florida are from many different backgrounds, speak many different languages, and may live here for only part of the year. In the 2010 Census, Florida needs to reflect its true population. In order to predict, plan, and receive the resources necessary for Florida’s future, the 2010 Census needs to be as accurate as possible.

13. What is a Complete Count Committee?

Complete Count Committees are on the state and local levels. Florida has a statewide Complete Count Committee, and many counties and cities have organized their own Complete Count Committees as well. These committees include representatives from community-based organizations, faith-based organizations, local governments, media and advertising groups, and businesses that are putting forth their time and resources to ensure an accurate count of the people who reside in Florida in 2010.

14. What is apportionment?

Apportionment is the process of proportionately dividing the 435 seats in the U.S. House of Representatives among the 50 states.

15. What is address canvassing?

Address canvassing operation is a critically important first step in assuring that every housing unit receives a census questionnaire in March 2010. Census workers will visit neighborhoods to verify housing units. In most cases, they will knock on doors to verify addresses and inquire about the number of living quarters on the property. This is the first census to include group quarters (such as dormitories, group homes, prisons and homeless shelters) in the address canvassing operation. This step should improve both the accuracy and coverage of the final count. Census workers will use hand-held computers equipped with GPS to increase geographic accuracy.