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If you haven't received a census survey at your household yet, and you don't live in a college dorm, group home or nursing home, you can call the Census Bureau to get a 2010 form.
* English versions are available at 1-866-872-6868.
* Spanish versions are available at 1-866-928-2010.
Most Tennesseans and Georgians are getting a second chance this month to respond to the 2010 census survey in the mail.
To cut the projected $2.7 billion expense of making personal visits to those who didn't send back census forms mailed in March, the U.S. Census Bureau mailed a second form last week to nearly one of every three U.S. households, including most of the Chattanooga area.
"We estimate that the second mailing could increase America's mail participation rate in the 2010 census by 7 to 10 percentage points, and doing so would save taxpayers more than $500 million," U.S. Census Director Robert Groves said.
People who mailed their first form should disregard the second, census spokesman Tony Jones said.
Nationwide, 65 percent of all households receiving a census form have mailed it back. Return rates in North Georgia and Southeast Tennessee range from 63 percent in Whitfield County to 68 percent in McMinn County.
The 2010 census form is the shortest since the first U.S. census in 1790. It should take about 10 minutes to fill out the 10 questions, the bureau estimates.
"It's important we receive completed census questionnaires immediately," said William Hatcher, regional director for the U.S. Census Bureau. "Mailing the forms back saves taxpayer money and helps ensure a complete count for Tennessee."
Census takers will start making home visits on May 1 to those who didn't mail back their forms.
According to the Census Bureau, it costs 42 cents to mail the form but $57 to send a census taker to a home.
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I'm glad they're sending a second mailing. While some neighbors received their mailings, we never did.
I am not mailing mine back because I want a census worker to come out to my house. It is giving someone a job. I don't mind my taxes going to someone's salary in this economy.
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