Countywide : Census Workers Begin Canvassing

Census workers have hit the streets of Ventura County to begin visiting 61,600 households that have not returned census questionnaires delivered in March.

Seventy-three percent of the 228,219 questionnaires sent to Ventura County residents have been returned to the Census Bureau. It is the highest return rate in the state, said Rico Cabrera, media specialist at the Los Angeles Regional Census Center.

Census workers will work statewide through May. But Cabrera said that because Ventura County is not an urban area and because so many of the forms have been returned, the job here will probably be completed ahead of schedule.

The county has hired 3,356 census workers but is seeking 1,323 more. Employees must be legal residents of California and must “pass a thorough security clearance because of the confidentiality factor involved,” Cabrera said.

Those who have not yet returned census forms and want help, or want new forms, may call 1-(800)-999-1990 (English) or 1-(800)-283-6826 (Spanish).