Beginning in late March 2009 the Census Bureau will be sending out address canvassers as a part of early operations. This workforce will walk or drive through neighborhoods to check that all addresses are in our database when the questionnaire is delivered in March 2010. This early operation is vital to ensuring a complete and accurate count.
Many people don't realize that the Address Canvassing operation occurs as much as a year ahead of the official Census day on April 1, 2010. Address Canvassing is the first large field operation for the 2010 Census and it is designed to identify all housing units and other living quarters. Listers will use hand held computers with maps on them to verify and list structures, including the collection of GPS coordinates for each location. Each address canvasser will be equipped with a laptop or a hand held computer. Census workers will wear an official identification badge and many address canvassers will carry U.S. Census Bureau bags, making them easier to identify.
All information collected by Address Canvassers and other Census employees is kept strictly confidential and cannot be shared with any other persons, institutions, or agencies.