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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2004
Census Bureau Begins Overseas Census Test
Contact:
Kim Crews
e-mail: Public Information Office
(301) 763-3691/457-3620 (fax)
(301) 457-1037 (TDD)
Release Information
U.S. Citizens in Three Countries to Be Counted
The U.S. Census Bureau has launched its 2004 Overseas Enumeration Test. The test is a census of U.S. citizens living in France, Kuwait and Mexico that will assess the feasibility of counting U.S. citizens residing overseas in 2010.
France, Kuwait and Mexico were chosen as test sites for their geographic diversity and because they are home to different groups of U.S. citizens -- e.g., professionals, students and retirees. Every U.S. citizen living in these countries is eligible to participate.
"I hope U.S. citizens living abroad will take the opportunity to perform this act of citizenship," said Louis Kincannon, director of the Census Bureau. "If you are a U.S. citizen living in France, Kuwait or Mexico, you should fill out the overseas census test questionnaire.
"Participating in the test census is easy, important and confidential," Kincannon said. "It's easy because U.S. citizens either can pick up questionnaires at U.S. embassies or other convenient locations, or they can respond to the questionnaire online. The Internet site <www.census.gov/overseas04> will be available until July 2, 2004.
"This test will help Congress determine the feasibility of conducting a worldwide census of U.S. citizens in 2010. It will help us answer questions, such as: What kinds of logistical challenges would we face? What types of outreach would work? And, most importantly, how many U.S. citizens might participate?"
Confidentiality is guaranteed. Individual answers in the test, as in all U.S. censuses, are used for statistical purposes only. The Census Bureau is prohibited by law from releasing information that could identify individuals or their families to any organization or government entity, foreign or domestic.
The overseas questionnaire will ask the same questions as its domestic counterpart -- name, relationship to others in the household, age, sex, race and Hispanic origin. It also will include questions specifically designed for U.S. citizens living abroad, such as citizenship, Social Security number and passport number. The questionnaire is a short form and will be available online and in paper form from February to July.
To assist in reaching out to Americans living in France, Kuwait and Mexico, the Census Bureau is working with organizations and businesses in each country to distribute questionnaires and informational materials.
For more information about the 2004 Overseas Enumeration Test, contact Kim Crews on (301) 763-3691 or e-mail.