Census 2010

Frequently Asked Questions

A: There are still 2010 Census forms being mailed out, so it is likely that you will receive one in the mail. If you do, please fill it out and mail it back right away. If you want to make sure you are counted, you can pick up a “Be Counted” form at one of our Questionnaire Assistance Centers. To find the center nearest you, please visit http://2010.census.gov/2010census/take10map/. If you have not received a 2010 Census form by April 12, call 1-866-872-6868 and provide your information over the phone or have a census form sent by mail. Beginning in May 2010, hundreds of thousands of census takers will be sent to every neighborhood in the country to count each housing unit that has not returned a census form.

A: You should be counted where you live and sleep most of the time. These residence rules serve as the guiding principle for the census, whether you are living with relatives because of a natural disaster or foreclosure, or are a college student living away from home, or a soldier living on a military base.

A: The Census Bureau created the Service Based Enumeration (SBE) operation. The SBE is designed to provide an opportunity for people experiencing some form of displacement or lack of permanent address to be included in the census, by counting them at service-based locations, such as homeless shelters, soup kitchens, etc. The “Be Counted” form is another way people can take part in the census. “Be Counted” forms are census forms that are available at various community locations for use by people who either did not receive a census form in the mail or who believe they were not otherwise included on any other census form.

A: The forms are available in six languages: English, Spanish, Chinese (simplified), Korean, Russian and Vietnamese. English/Spanish bi-lingual forms will be mailed to areas with large numbers of Spanish-only households. You will be able to request a form in one of the five non-English languages via toll-free numbers that will be available closer to Census Day. Language Assistance Guides are available in 59 different languages to help people fill out the English version of the census form. You may also access large print and Braille guides and a language reference dictionary.

A: “Be Counted” forms are census forms that are available at various community locations for use by people who either did not receive a form in the mail or whose information was not collected on any other form. “Be Counted” forms are available in English, Spanish, Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese and Russian. These forms can be picked up in various community locations and mailed back in the attached postage-paid envelope.