Be Counted - It’s Safe, It’s Easy, It’s Important

On April 1, 2010, we will take a snapshot of Alameda County that will have an enormous impact on the upcoming decade.

Every ten years as mandated by the Constitution, the Census is taken. It is the one chance for Alameda County’s residents to stand up and be counted.

Over $400 billion dollars of Federal funding is distributed to local, state, and tribal governments based on the results. The only way to ensure that Alameda County and our 14 cities receive our fair share is to make certain that EVERY PERSON living here is counted.

Each person we miss equals thousands of dollars in lost funding for roads, schools, emergency, services, hospitals and human services.

In 2000 only 72% of Alameda County residents responded to the Census. Don’t leave our future blank by leaving this form blank.

The Census is safe, it's easy, and it's important!

Don't be afraid to be counted! Census forms are completely confidential for 72 years and information that identifies individual respondents cannot be shared with anyone, including welfare and immigration agencies. Census workers take an oath for life to protect your answers - they are subject to a $250,000 fine and/or a five-year prison term for disclosing any information that could identify an individual respondent or household.

The Questionnaire:

10 questions….10 minutes….Affects the Next 10 years of our lives.
This is one of the shortest census forms in U.S. history! The 2010 Census form consists of no more than 10 questions: name, relationship, gender, age and date of birth, race, and whether you rent or own your home. It will take most households about 10 minutes to complete.

How You Can Help

• Answer and return the Census questionnaire mailed to your home on April 1, 2010.
• Reach out to family & friends and help them understand its importance and its confidentiality.
• Support use of 2010 Census educational materials in your child’s school.
• Raise awareness in your community.

Key Dates

• January 13, 2009 – Alameda County Board of Supervisors establishes a Census 2010 Complete Count Steering Committee.
• March 10, 2010 – Census forms are mailed or delivered to households.
• April 1, 2010 – Census Day – Mail your completed Census form back to the U.S. Census Bureau.
• April to July, 2010 – Census takers visit households that did not return a questionnaire by mail.
• December 2010 - By law, the U.S. Census Bureau delivers population counts to the president for apportionment of Congressional districts.
• March 2011 – By law, the U.S. Census Bureau completes delivery of redistricting data to California.