About the Census --

[madamesilverspurs]

Does it really count "every" person, or is it just a sampling?

Just wondering, seeing as how I haven't gotten one in the mail and no census-taker has come to my door.


--

[Vincardog]

1. It is supposed to count every person.

[virgogal]

2. You should have received the mailing. I think the census

takers only come when there is no returned form.

[sinkingfeeling]

3. I read this morning that there are still 1.6 million forms to be mailed.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/census/2010-03-29-census-address_N.htm

[atreides1]

4. Ours must be in that stack.

Still haven't received our form yet.

[LiberalFighter]

5. Your neighbor probably stole it so you wouldn't be counted.

You will probably receive a visit from a census taker to take down your info.

[TreasonousBastard]

6. It is supposed to count everyone, but...

it's damn difficult to get every address in the whole country right. There are maps which purport to have every dwelling unit, and they are remarkably accurate, but they still don't have every mailing address.

Out here, they gave up on mailing them because too many areas have no mail delivery-- only PO boxes. And, maybe 2/3 of the housing units are seasonal anyway.

[kestrel91316]

7. The intent is to count EVERY SINGLE PERSON. Call the Census people

and have them either send a form or make an appointment to meet with a census taker.

[brooklynite]

8. The universe of returned forms is the universe of counted population...

...otherwise there would be endless political squabbles about how to estimate the "real" number.

[eridani]

9. Not true. If you don't return the form, someone goes to your residence with it. n/t

[brooklynite]

12. In which case there's a returned form...

My only point is that completed forms (however and whenever they're completed) are the sum total of countable data.

[tabbycat31]

10. I have not received one either

and I complained to my post office about it too.

[sonias]

13. You should call the Census bureau directly

http://2010.census.gov/2010census/contact/index.php
Census Bureau Call Center
General Telephone Lines: 1-800-923-8282 (Monday to Thursday: 8:30 - 5:30 ET Friday: 8:30-4:30 ET)

https://ask.census2010.gov/cgi-bin/askcensus2010.cfg/php/enduser/std_alp.php">ask.census2010.gov
What do I do if I don’t receive a questionnaire?

Answer
Beginning April 12, 2010, you should call the Telephone Questionnaire Assistance center at one of the numbers listed below to obtain a questionnaire. The phone lines will be open from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. (your local time) seven days a week from February 25, 2010 - July 30, 2010.

* English 1-866-872-6868
* Spanish 1-866-928-2010
* Chinese 1-866-935-2010
* Korean 1-866-955-2010
* Vietnamese 1-866-945-2010
* Russian 1-866-965-2010

For the hearing-impaired, dial TDD 1-866-783-2010 during the times noted.

[eridani]

11. I've been doing homeless shelters this week. Tonight is the night

--that all areas known to have been used as outside sleeping places for homeless people will be surveyed from 12AM to 7AM. We are going in groups of three with flashlights and fluorescent CENSUS jackets. Our instructions are to only interview people who are awake--otherwise just guess at age, sex and race.