06/04/10

 If you didn’t fill out a U.S. Census form, an Indiana census worker may soon be visiting your home to ensure there is a complete count for Senate District 5, said State Sen. Ed Charbonneau (R-Valparaiso).


About 78 percent of Hoosiers returned their 2010 Census mail-in forms, tying Indiana with the third highest return rate in the nation, according to census officials. Now, the door-to-door phase of the population count is underway and will continue through July 10.


“Hoosiers who did not return their mail-in census form may soon receive a visit from a local census taker,” Charbonneau said. “Constituents can be prepared and know what to expect. For example, it is important to remember a census worker will not ask for your Social Security, credit card or bank account numbers nor will they ask to enter your home for any reason.”


The U.S. Census Bureau offers the following advice to help prepare for a visit from a census worker: 

  • First ask to see their identification. All census workers carry official government badges marked with just their name and U.S. Department of Commerce logo;
  • If you are still not certain about a worker’s identity, please call 1-866-872-6868 to confirm they are employed by the Census Bureau; and
  • Answer the census form questions for your entire household – you must be at least 15 years old to answer questions – so the census taker can record the results.

“Spending just a few minutes to talk with a census worker will help ensure your community gets its fair share of federal and state funding,” Charbonneau said.

Recently, the U.S. Census Bureau estimated close to $400 billion a year is allocated across the nation based on census population figures. Funds go toward schools, free and reduced fee lunch programs, athletics, roads, transportation needs and helping the elderly and the poor.

Census information is also used to apportion seats in the U.S. House of Representatives, state legislature, school districts and other important functional areas of government.

Charbonneau said for more information on the 2010 Census please visit http://2010.census.gov/2010census.