Be Counted in Northampton!
Return Your 2010 Census Survey
2010 Census Takers Now Knocking on Doors
Federal Census Takers are now going to households that have not submitted a Census Form by mail to complete the form in person. Please cooperate with the Census Taker and respond to the questions. Below is some information links on what to expect when a Census Taker comes to your door.
What is a census taker?
http://2010.census.gov/2010census/how/census-taker.php
Preparing For the Census Taker: What to do when a census taker visits you.
http://2010.census.gov/2010census/how/preparing.php
Fraudulent Activity and Scams:
http://2010.census.gov/2010census/privacy/fraudulent-activity-and-scams.php
More Security Topics for Your Protection:
http://2010.census.gov/2010census/privacy/more-security-topics.php
Letter from Mayor Higgins on the Census
2010 Federal Census Background
In March of 2010, census forms will be delivered to every residence in the United States and Puerto Rico. When you receive yours, just answer the 10 short questions and then mail the form back in the postage-paid envelope provided. If you don’t mail the form back, you may receive a visit from a census taker, who will ask you the questions from the form. A census taker must follow-up in person with every address that doesn’t mail back the form in order to obtain the responses.
The Census is Safe
* The 2010 Census will ask for name, gender, age, race, ethnicity, relationship, and whether you own or rent your home – just 10 simple questions that will take about 10 minutes to answer.
* The Census Bureau safeguards all census responses to the highest security standards available.
* Your answers are protected by law and are not shared with anyone. 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.
When Census Takers will be Going Door-to-Door
* From April to July 2010, we will knock on the door of every household that does not mail back a completed 2010 Census form.
* It’s critical that you take just 10 minutes to fill out and mail back your form rather than wait for a census worker to show up on your doorstep. About $85 million in taxpayer dollars are saved for every one percent increase in mail response.
How to Identify a Census Taker
If a U.S. Census Bureau employee knocks on your door, here are some recognition tips to assure the validity of the employee:
* The census taker must present an ID badge that contains a Department of Commerce watermark and expiration date. The census taker may also be carrying a bag with a Census Bureau logo.
* The census taker will provide you with supervisor contact information and/or the Local Census Office phone number for verification, if asked.
* The census taker will ONLY ask you the questions that appear on the census form.
What the 2010 Census DOES NOT Ask
* 2010 Census takers will not ask you for your social security number, bank account number, or credit card number.
* 2010 Census takers also never solicit for donations and will never contact you by e-mail.
Be on the lookout for fraudulent emails and phone calls claiming to be Census takers. Never give your social security number, bank account number or credit card number to anyone claiming to be from the Census.