People count.

And in order to get an accurate count of the country’s population, the U.S. Constitution mandates that everyone living in the United States be counted every 10 years.

Preparation for the 2010 census got underway Monday when U.S. Census employees began the process of door-to-door address canvassing. Census forms will be mailed to verified addresses in March 2010.

The address canvassing will continue through June 19, said Judy Lopez, a regional technician with the U.S. Census Bureau, which falls under the U.S. Department of Commerce.

“The main objective of the Census Bureau is to count people once, only once and in the right place,” Lopez said.

“An accurate count is particularly important since the census data are the basis for redrawing of the congressional and state legislative districts and distributing over $300 billion to state and local governments.”

Carolyn Geoffroy, a resident of Walnut Street in Loomis since 1972, said Monday afternoon no census worker had been to her home.

But she remembers the last census as being an easy process and will be pleased to help again.

“It’s important to have some sense of the correct population,” Geoffroy said.

Lopez said that when address listers goes to a home, and the address is posted on the home, they will do a courtesy knock and let the homeowners know what they are doing in the area, give them a printout describing the strict confidentiality rules under which they are operating, and ask if there are any other living quarters at that address.

If there is not an address posted, Lopez said, address listers will conduct an interview to verify the address to assure that each household gets a census form in the mail next March.

Address canvassing will take place seven days a week, during daylight hour.

Lopez stressed that census workers can be easily identified.

“They will have a black census bag (clearly marked U.S. Census Bureau), a handheld computer, and they will have an ID badge on them.

“Census workers will never ask for social security or bank information,” Lopez said.

To further verify the name of a census worker, call (209) 235-3471 during the address-canvassing period.

“Leave census worker’s first and last name and city you live in, and your phone number. They will call you back to verify as soon as possible,” she said.

According to Lopez, the FBI conducts an extensive background on every employee hired by the Census Bureau.

“They (census employees) take an oath for life not to reveal any census bureau respondent’s information or address, (to anyone) including the CIA, welfare, immigration or other federal agencies.

“They cannot even give the President of the United States any of the respondent’s answers or addresses.

“In violation of that oath, they could face a fine of up to $250,000 and five years in prison,” she said.

Don’t be surprised if a second census worker returns to check your address.

“We spot check a few, as quality control,” said Lopez, “to make sure it is spotted correctly on the map, and the address is correct."