Census numbers are used to decide how many seats in the U.S. House of Representatives go to each state to ensure that everyone is fairly represented in Congress. Census data also are used for determining voting districts at the state and local level to help maintain our democratic political system based on the principle of one person, one vote. The Lake County Board of County Commissioners confirms the information citizens provide is held in the strictest confidence. Individual responses cannot be shared with agencies or organizations at the federal, state or local levels and remains confidential for 72 years. High-level security measures and the requirement that every employee swear an oath to keep information confidential also protect the privacy of census data.
Employees face harsh penalties for violating the law or their oaths.
Despite the importance of the census and the protections afforded, during the past few decades, the number of residents who have completed and mailed back their census forms has been declining steadily. The national mail response rate dropped from 78 percent in 1970 to 75 percent in 1980 to 65 percent in 1990. In fact, only 57-percent of our residents mailed back their forms in 1990. As a result, the Census Bureau estimates that 5.2-percent were not counted in 1990. This lack of participation severely affects programs the Lake County Board of County Commissioners can fund.