Making Sense of the Census

Census Day 2010 is nearly upon us.  If you’ve completed your census form and returned it – kudos to you!  For those who haven’t, here are a few questions asked by Davisites, and answers to set you on your way.

We have not received a census form in the mail.  Why?  What do I do now?

Don’t panic.  If every census form was scheduled to be delivered on the same day, or even in the same week, the postal delivery workers would not have been able to carry the mail bags!The census forms were randomized so that 8% to 12% are delivered each day.  The expectation is that every residence that receives mail delivery will have received one census form by March 27th.

Each census form has a bar code in the address area that corresponds to the GPS location for that specific residence.  Using the form that is received in the mail will make if much easier for the census department to register receipt of the returned form.

If you have NOT received a form in the mail by March 30th, you report this to a census worker and pick up a replacement form at the Davis Senior Center, 7th and A Streets, Davis.

I live with a group of friends in an apartment in Davis.  Who fills out the form?  Do we include the friend of a friend who sleeps on the couch but doesn’t pay rent here and isn’t listed on the lease?

Each residence will receive only one form.  That form should be completed and returned – including everyone who ‘resides’ in the apartment.  Anyone living in the house can be designated as “person #1″ to complete the form – so roll the dice, or flip a coin to decide who will fill out the form.  In completing the form please make sure that each person’s name is spelled correctly, and that the correct birth date is included, because these indicators will be very important to people doing genealogical research in the years following 2085

Yes, please include the couch surfer if that person sleeps in the residence more than 4 days out of seven.  The information on the census will not be shared with the landlord and you will not be reported for having someone living in the house who is not on the lease.

We have a post office box and don’t receive mail at the residence.  How do we get a census form?

You may simply wait.  The census department will match returned census forms to the data base of existing residences beginning on April 1 and continuing through April 30th.  Since no form will have been returned from your residence, the census department will send a census worker to your residence to have you complete the form and give it back to them.  The visits will begin in late April and continue until a form is on file for every residence, or a census worker has designated the residence as unoccupied.

If you would prefer, you may report your inability to receive mail at your residence to a census worker and request a census form be given to you to complete and return. There will be census workers at the Davis Senior Center, 7th and A Streets, Davis:

• Monday  1:30 – 4:30pm; 6:00 – 7:30pm
• Wednesday  8:30am – 12:30pm
• Thursday   1:30 – 4:30pm
• Friday 8:30 am – 12:30 pm
• Saturday  11:30am – 3:00pm

I was just home for spring break and my mom says she will include me on her census form so I don’t have to fill one out.  But my roommate says I have to be counted here.  Who is right?

Anyone who resides is Davis should fill out the Census form that comes to the Davis address.  So your roommate is correct.  Please be included on the census form returned from your residence and make sure that your name is spelled correctly and the correct birthdate is included.

It would be best if you called your mom and asked her not to include you on the census form she is completing.  However if it is too late, don’t worry, the census department will cross reference birth dates and names and will remove the double count.

More questions?  Read Stand and Up and Be Counted, visit the 2010 census website, or contact Davis Counts 2010 at the e-mail address below.