Census urges cooperation with enumerators to ensure everyone is counted

 New York, NY – Beginning May 1, more than 600,000 Census takers, commonly referred to as enumerators, will knock on doors in communities across the United States , signaling the launch of the Nonresponse Follow-up operation (NRFU).  NRFU operation tasks enumerators with visiting households that did not mail back their 2010 Census form to make sure everyone is counted once and in the right place.  The U.S. Census Bureau is conducting this important operation to ensure that the 2010 Census is complete and accurate.

Enumerators are temporary workers hired from the local community by the U.S. Census Bureau.  The census taker will have an ID badge with the Bureau of the Census seal, and may also be carrying a bag with “U.S. Census Bureau” on it.  If asked, he or she will provide you with supervisor contact information and/or the Local Census Office phone number for verification.

Census takers will visit homes to ask the same ten questions that were included in the mailed out questionnaire.  They will not ask respondents about immigration or citizenship status, Social Security numbers, or bank accounts and any financial information.  They will not solicit any monetary contribution.

“Nonresponse follow-up is critical to achieving an accurate census,” says Lester A. Farthing, the U.S. Census Bureau’s New York regional director.  “If an enumerator knocks on your door, please cooperate and answer ten simple questions so that your community can receive its fair share of federal funding and be fairly represented in government.”

Census takers will visit each address up to three times and may try to telephone up to three times.  If a resident does not answer, the census taker will leave a door hanger with a number the resident can call to schedule an interview time. If contact is made by phone, the census worker will conduct the interview with the household member.

All personal information given to census takers is kept confidential and is protected by strict privacy laws.  Census employees are sworn for life to protect personally identifiable information and face penalties of up to five years in prison, a fine up to $250,000 or both for disclosure.  The Census Bureau is prohibited by law from sharing personal information with any other government agency or law enforcement.

Nonresponse follow-up operations will continue until July 10.  For more information on Census takers and NRFU operations, visit 2010census.gov.