Double Census Form

Hi, whiteheather39. This happened to me too. I had to call the Census Bureau about this last week. I told the man that I had already filled the Census out. I sent it back to them about a week ago. That was in March, the last week or so. Now, I had a postcard that was sent stating for me to return it. When they sent it to me I will admit that I did not fill it out and returned it right then and there. I just returned it about two weeks after that. But, I turned it in before April, 1st. The man told me just to discard the second Census form. I asked him if they had my information in the computer to check if they have already received my first Census form that I had mailed. But, he could not check for this. It was no way for him to track this down. That made me feel wary because I don't want anyone showing up at my apartment's doorstep about me not returning the form. I know that I sent one in, and I don't want to complete another one. I agree with you, they should have software that is able to tell if a person had returned their completed Census form back to them. The government needs to keep up with this, since they make it seem so important about completing and returning the form anyway.

It doesn't surprise me at all. Inefficiency and waste is what our government specializes in. I work for a government agency and I point out waste all the time and nothing ever gets done about it. It's quite amazing but not surprising when you realize that the government doesn't operate like a business that has to make a profit to survive. Government just does deficit spending or raises taxes. There is no incentive to be efficient or save money. When you get right down to it, the census form is redundant anyway. The government already has everybody in the IRS database. They have a record and an address for everyone that files taxes, appears as a dependent on a tax form, or has a social security number. So who are they counting? Illegals? Is anyone that is NOT already in the government database even going to fill out the form and send it in? I don't think so. The Census Bureau itself is a prime example of a needless government agency that could be totally eliminated. It was needed before the computer age but now it is obsolete, yet it continues. All the information could be gleaned from other government databases yet they continue to spend massive amounts of money to send out mailings and employ people to go door to door. It's ridiculous. It's our government in action...

I also had friends who found it absurd that we were sent letters telling us we would get these census forms. It is not well organized and it is wasteful.

very wasteful.

I just mailed in one of the two census forms I received.But one for here in Oklahoam and one was for us in Montana. Undoubtedly it would be stupid to send them both in. But still it was costly for you to receive two and IS stupid and frivolous spending.

Hiya whiteheather, You would think that they would think about that would´nt you? Specially being in the crisis we are all in. I suppose it was somebodies idea and it got diverted along the way. Maybe else took it over and hence the second round of papers to fill out. Or maybe are they giving you a second choice or it could be in case you lost the first form. Probably just wan t to make sure that nothing is left out. They want to feel they have done things right. I´m only supposing though. Take care heather.

One form is enough, but sometimes computers glitch and people make honest mistakes. I don't think you got two forms on purpose. Yes, it wastes money but I don't think there's much anyone can do about it. Lots of people in the country have the same names you know, and they change their addresses often enough. Even with a tighter computer system, I doubt it would keep some people from getting duplicate forms.