Make it count

"We can't move forward until you mail it back." That's the catchphrase being pitched by the United States Census Bureau showing up in Superbowl commercials, on the number 16 Ford Fusion NASCAR car and in a campaign featuring Dora the Explorer. But what is the census and what does it do exactly?
The United States Census was first conducted in 1790 and is required under Article I, Section 2 of the Constitution. Every 10 years, the Census Bureau conducts a count of all 308 million residents of the United States and Puerto Rico regardless of citizenship.
According to the Census Bureau, the information is used to determine how more than $400 billion in federal funds is distributed to communities for things like hospitals, job training centers, schools, senior centers, public works projects like roads and bridges, and emergency services. Census information is also used to determine how seats in the House of Representatives are allocated and how local voting districts are drawn. That could mean big changes for Orange County voters in 2011.
"It is a waiting game," Orange County Registrar Raymond Cady said. "We cannot act locally on District make-up until the census data is processed and released to the states by the US government. Then, the General Assembly will begin their work of reallocating the voting districts within the state for US Congressional districts, the Virginia House of Delegates and Virginia Senate. Then, after those districts are in place the voting districts for local county government will be explored, discussed and implemented."
According to Cady, most of the population in growth within the county has occurred mainly in the northeast area of the county. Because of this, he predicts there could be a scenario where county Districts 1 and 2 grow geographically in size while their population remains steady or declines. Meanwhile, Districts 3, 4 and 5 may shrink geographically in size, but increase in population.
"Thus, the northeast section of the county will have more people to represent and there may be a need for three districts to split amongst the highest population areas of the county; with Districts 1 and 2 representing a large land area, but smaller population," he said. "If these scenarios come to fruition there will be a need to address the current locations of polling places in all voting districts within Orange County - with the need to add additional polling locations and close or move current polling locations."
Cady said these decisions are not made by the electoral board but rather by the Orange County Board of Supervisors. He said the supervisors will make any redistricting decisions in consultation with the state, local government and local administration with the public invited to provide input and feedback during the process. When all the decisions have been made, Cady said, the new districts and polling locations are submitted to the U.S. Department of Justice - Civil Rights Division for final approval.
According to Dave Fosdick, a volunteer with the Fredericksburg Complete Count Committee which develops strategies for achieving maximum census awareness and participation, advertising for the Census began in January.
"We started in January trying to get the word out about the upcoming census," he said.
According to Fosdick, the 2010 Census is a short, simple form. The Census Bureau claims the form is one of the shortest in history. It asks just 10 questions regarding the residents in a household. Questions include how many people were living in the home as of April 1, 2010 and information on the household residents' race, sex and age. All information collected is protected by the government.
Forms are expected to be mailed out in mid-March with a due date of April 1, National Census Day. A postage-paid envelope is included with the census form in order to mail it back. The 2010 Census cannot be completed online. Fosdick said that is the question he answers the most.
"No, you can't fill it out online at this time," he said. "Maybe in 2020, but that is the Census Bureau's decision."
Fosdick said it's important that people fill out the Census form and mail it back on time. He said for every percentage point of the population that doesn't send it back, the government has to spend $80-90 million to send out census takers. A census taker is given the list of residencies that have not sent back their census forms and is required to visit those addresses and record the answers to the questions on a census form. Should someone not answer the door the first time, the census taker will revisit the residence up to three times, leaving contact information in an effort to schedule an appointment to complete the census form. Section 221 of Title 13 of the U.S. Code requires that all residents complete their census forms. However, instead of relying on criminal charges, the Census Bureau said it usually successful in garnering participation by explaining the important of the questions to local communities.
Census takers will attempt to track down delinquent residencies between April and July. According to the Virginia State Police, citizens should follow several steps to ensure a census taker is legitimate and not part of a scam. Census takers visiting homes will possess a special identification badge issued by the U.S. Census Bureau. The police suggest that homeowners ask to see this badge if someone comes to the residence stating they are a census taker. Plus, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, a census taker will never ask to enter a home. Therefore, be wary of anyone who identifies himself/herself as a census taker and asks/insists on entering the residence in order to conduct an interview. Refuse that individual entry and call the Regional Census Office or police. Also, official census takers can only interview individuals 15 years or older. They are not permitted to interview anyone under 15 years of age for their answers. If a child has been approached by an adult claiming to be a census taker, ask the child fully about the encounter and notify police. Along the same lines, Census takers will never ask for bank account or credit card numbers or information. Such information has nothing to do with the 2010 Census.
Population information gained from the Census will be delivered to the president for apportionment in December and redistricting data will be made available to states in March 2011.
For more information on the 2010 Census and answers to questions regarding the census, visit www.2010.census.gov. Also, starting March 22, a map will be updated, tracking the completion of the census in areas throughout the country. To see where local communities lie as far as census completion, visit http://2010.census.gov/2010census/take10map/