QUESTION: I've received three census surveys and two follow-up cards in the mail so far. I live in senior housing in Pearl City, and at least two neighbors also received more than one census survey. I haven't opened the second and third envelopes, but I don't know what to do with them. My neighbor said, “;Oh, just forget about it because I got another one, too.”; I said we can't just forget about them because it says “;your response is required by law.”; I filled in my first form weeks ago and mailed it in. I can't remember what that survey was for because I threw the envelope away. The next week, I got a reminder card about filling it out. Then I received a big envelope with the American Community Survey, also from the Census Bureau. The third one I got last week said U.S. Census 2010. What should I do?

ANSWER: You should fill out the American Community Survey, which is separate from the Census 2010 survey, and much more detailed.

However, if you already filled out the Census 2010 survey, the third envelope you received is likely a duplicate, said Winnie Wilson, manager of the U.S. Census Bureau office in Honolulu.

You should open the envelope to see whether it is a duplicate, and if so, it can be ignored, she said.

Although both surveys are sent by the Census Bureau, they are separate mailings, with different purposes. The fact that they are taking place at the same time is “;confusing to a lot of people,”; Wilson acknowledged.

She explained that the Census 2010 survey, which her office is handling, is a decennial project, conducted every 10 years.

“;We take a snapshot of what America looks like, trying to get a complete count”; of the number of people, Wilson said. “;We're trying to get a picture of just how everything is right now.”;

It's a short survey, with only 10 questions, a distinct difference from the long surveys sent out in the past.

To compile more detailed demographic information about the American people, the much-longer American Community Survey was developed. But, even then, no personal information is solicited, Wilson said.

The American Community Survey is conducted year-round, sent out monthly to a random sample of addresses across the nation.

Both census surveys are required to be filled out by law.

“;It would definitely be a coincidence that they arrived at about the same time,”; Wilson said, when asked why you received both surveys within a couple of weeks.

Regarding a duplicate of the 2010 survey: “;I know that headquarters was sending out, in some targeted areas, a second census form, just in case (the addressee) didn't do the first one, and that, too, is random,”; Wilson said. “;Not everybody is getting a second one.”;

Why are people being sent so many mailings, including reminder cards that sometimes come after surveys have been sent back?

It actually is an attempt to save money in the long run.

“;That seems kind of strange,”; Wilson said, but explained that the 42-cent bulk mail postage to send out a reminder is much cheaper than having to send workers door to door to addresses where people have not returned the surveys.

“;For every percentage that we have in mail-back, it saves the government $85 million,”; she said.

In other words, for every 1 percent of the population that doesn't mail back a survey, the federal government has to spend $85 million to follow up and make sure they do fill out the forms.

But why send a reminder card when people have already sent in their forms?

Wilson said the forms and cards might just be crossing in the mail. “;But even then, it's a heck of a lot cheaper than having to do that versus sending somebody out,”; she said.

In Hawaii alone the Census Bureau will be hiring 3,000 people to do follow-up visits.

“;Nonresponse follow-up,”; which means going door to door, is the biggest Census Bureau operation, Wilson said.

In the 2000 census, Hawaii ranked a dismal third lowest in response — with an overall return rate of only about 60 percent.

Last week, Hawaii actually was ahead of the nation, with a return rate of 34 percent. However, as of April 1 the return rate was 50 percent, and Hawaii had slipped to a six-way tie for No. 41 among the states and District of Columbia, according to the state Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism.

To see what areas have the highest and lowest return rates in the state, plus other census facts, go to hawaii.gov/dbedt/info/census/Hawaii_Census_2010/l.

Residents have until mid- to late April to return the surveys.

“;In May we physically start going door to door,”; Wilson said.

Why fill out the forms?

Because $400 billion in federal funding is at stake, every year for the next 10 years, Wilson said.

The more people a state has, the more it gets.

Consider that if a tsunami had actually struck Hawaii in February, Hawaii would have gotten federal aid based on its population count of 2000 when only 60 percent of the addressees returned their surveys, Wilson said. “;So it makes a big difference.”;

Meanwhile, just remember: “;One way of avoiding us coming to your door and asking questions in an attempt to get the form filled out is to mail it back,”; Wilson said. “;We won't visit you if you mail it back.”;

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Anyone with questions about Hawaii Census 2010 can call 535-0900.

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Write to “;Kokua Line”; at Honolulu Star-Bulletin, 7 Waterfront Plaza, Suite 210, 500 Ala Moana Blvd., Honolulu 96813; call 529-4773; fax 529-4750; or e-mail .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).