Midwest states tops in Census mail participation rates

As of Tuesday, April 20, 2010, 71 percent of the nation’s households have mailed back their 2010 Census forms, the U.S. Census Bureau announced today.

The top states: Wisconsin at 80%; Minnesota, 78%; Iowa, 77%; Indiana, 76%; and Virginia, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Nebraska at 75%.

Also as of today, 18 states, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico have met or surpassed their 2000 Census mail participation rate. Illinois is among the 18 states.

Midwest Democracy Network partner organizations in Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio and Wisconsin have been working on full-count efforts since 2008.

The Census Bureau will continue to post updates to the participation rate throughout the week as the last of the mailed-back forms are processed. After Friday, April 23, no rate updates will be posted until the final mail participation rate is calculated and announced at a news conference during the week of April 26.

The door-knocking to collect information from households who did not mail back forms begins May 1.

Read the Census Bureau new release. Check out their Take 10 Challenge Map to find out about participation rates in your community.

Read the USA Today story. Visit their response rate database.