PEW RESEARCH CENTER BEGINS NEW POLL ON CENSUS

In preparation for the 2010 Census the Pew Research Center will be conducting a series of studies about the public’s knowledge of the Census.  The first poll was conducted Jan 6-10 and included people with both cell phones and land lines.

The poll found  that most Americans think the census is very important (60%) and say they definitely will participate (58%). But enthusiasm for the census is not universal. In particular, younger people, Hispanics and the less well educated are not as familiar with the census and are less likely to participate than other groups. In addition, there are partisan differences in opinions about the value of the census, and in personal willingness to participate.

The Center determined that age was the most important factor in predicting participation.  Older Americans were much more likely to say they will definitely participate.  Democrats were much more likely to say they would participate than Republicans which is a reversal of past participation when whites and middle class were more likely to participate.

There also is a partisan divide in intention to participate; all other things being equal, the probability of Democrats saying they definitely will participate is .75 while the probability for Republicans is .56.  Failure of Republicans to participate could upend some of the re apportionment predictions.  These predictions have Republican states like Arizona, Texas and Florida gaining seats.

The survey also probed knowledge of some basic facts about the census. Most Americans know that the census is used to decide states’ representation in Congress (64%) and that the census is not used to locate illegal immigrants so they can be arrested (68%). But just 31% know that participation in the census is required by law.

Read the full report Most View Census Positively, But Some Have Doubts on the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press' Web site.

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