Volunteers sought to promote Census in Neshoba County

Volunteers sought to promote census

By DEBBIE BURT MYERS
Managing Editor

County officials are looking for volunteers to help promote the 2010 census in an effort to count every resident after a census employee told supervisors on Monday that only 63 percent of Mississippians mailed back their questionnaires during the last count.

Diane Chapman, partnership specialist with the U. S. Census Bureau, told supervisors that it was very important for every individual to be counted in the census.

She cited a number of reasons why some people didn't participate in the last census, ranging from illiteracy to a fear that their disclosure might have an affect on their governmental benefits such as food stamps.

Chapman asked supervisors to appoint a count committee composed of trustworthy people who are influential in the community who would, among other things, promote the census and educate the public about its importance.

"We have to let people know this is safe. The Census Bureau cannot share the information with any other branch of government. The census data is held confidential for 72 years," she said.

Mississippi lost a Congressional seat following the 2000 census, Chapman said, noting that the state was "walking a fine line" of losing another.

"There was only a 63 percent mail back response rate in the state in 2000," she said.