If you received a Census form with the wrong address printed on it, don’t fret. With more than 130 million-plus addresses in the country, the U.S. Census is working to get them all correct.
“We are relying on residents to help by making the corrections …,” said Rich Dixon of the U.S. Census Bureau.
The Census, which is mandated by the U.S. Constitution, is a nationwide count every 10 years. Census data are used to distribute Congressional seats to states and make decisions about what community services to provide.
If you did receive a form with the wrong address on it, here’s what to do:
If the city and/or ZIP Code are incorrect but the street address is fine, be sure to complete the form, correct the city name and ZIP and mail it back. If the house number and street number are both wrong and you haven’t filled out the form yet, write “Wrong Address” on the front of the envelope, leave the questions blank and place the envelope in the mail. A Census worker will follow up with you later. If you’ve filled out the form, discard it in a way so your personal information is not compromised. A Census worker will catch you at a later date.
If the address is incorrect and you’ve already mailed the form back, a Census worker may follow up with you in the near future.
For more information, visit http://2010.census.gov/2010census/index.php.
