Hundreds neglected by census

Entire towns fail to receive forms for federal head count; apathy blamed for few returns

Web posted April 6, 2000

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By Clarissa J. Walker
Staff Writer

The federal government hasn't counted Lt. Michael Frank's four-member household yet, and the North Augusta resident said it's not his fault.

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Like hundreds of residents in South Carolina and the Augusta area, Lt. Frank never received his U.S. Census form in the mail.

``I don't have an overwhelming desire to be counted,'' said Lt. Frank, who works for the Aiken County Sheriff's Office. ``But if it is a determining factor in the money that South Carolina gets, then I know that as many people should be counted as possible. It's like voting. You have a certain responsibility. If you don't participate, you don't have the right to complain.''

Since Census 2000 Day last Saturday, bureau officials have blamed residents' apathy for the lower-than-expected response rate.

As of Wednesday, only half of the 87,058 forms sent out to Augusta residents had been returned. And 51 percent of South Carolina's forms hadn't been sent back either.

But officials admit that a flawed distribution system is at least part of the problem.

``I have whole towns that did not get a form,'' said John Harlan, Augusta census office manager. Mr. Harlan's office is coordinating the census for 16 Georgia counties.

``There have been innumerable calls.''

The Census Bureau sent the forms to residents that have street addresses, including housing and apartment units, he said.

``The post office is forbidden to drop these forms off in post office boxes because they don't know who owns the P.O. boxes,'' Mr. Harlan said.

In Harlem, the majority of the residents rely on post office boxes for mail service, which explains why many didn't get a census form.

``Someone called here a couple of weeks ago and asked if we got the form, and we told them no,'' said Karen Voliton, who lives on South Bell Street in Harlem -- a street that has no mail delivery service.

``And we still haven't gotten one. I heard a lot of people say that.''

Mr. Harlan said that the bureau will not be mailing any more forms for Census 2000. Now, residents who need forms will have to get them from local census help centers -- which will be open nationwide until April 14 -- or they will have to be counted when the census-takers begin their door-to-door visits.

Reach Clarissa J. Walker at (706) 828-3851.