No, and I would "NOT" be filling it out!!!!!!

You are legally obligated to respond.

Here is a link that might be useful: from ask.census.gov

I feel like my privacy, and my husband's privacy, have been invaded a bit. I'm glad they didn't ask for social security numbers.

I don't know what form you received, but I would put n/a on those questions you don't want to answer - just how I, PERSONALLY, would do it.

I am retired, so most of the questions were n/a for mine, but if I found a question too personal ie 'what time do you leave for work in the morning', or 'how much do you make'(the government KNOWS how much you make!), I would put n/a!

I got one in 2009. Did not fill it out. Did not send it in. No problem.

I got a phone call from the survey people, and she stated that I did not have to answer a question if I didn't want to, which I didn't, on a couple. Otherwise, she was very considerate. I had no compunction about filling out the forms nor receiving the follow-up call.

wildchild, Just because nothing happened to you doesn't mean they won't track her down... If it says by law she has to fill it out, I wouldn't suggest otherwise. Who knows when or if it may pop up again.

cheerful, Do you want to have to deal with them coming unexpectedly to your door? I think you may be able to call and answer your questions over the phone if that makes you feel better. They may even allow you to not answer questions you are uncomfortable answering (I know they did that for us when we were part of an ongoing phone census). Call and ask. Here's a link that may help.

Here is a link that might be useful: US Census

We had to fill out one of these and I also found some of the questions rather invasive, but I answered them...Also had to dig out some paperwork to answer certain questions.

It made me mad that "We estimate that the survey will take 20 minutes" and it took hubby and I over an hour to fill it out. And then they followed up with a phone call that took more time.

devil's avocate, here...if you knew this information would help not only you, but others, would it be so bad to fill out?

Carla - they did track me down. After getting a call a day for over a week I finally picked up. It went like this.

Me: Hello before we speak I will need to know your full name,where you live and how much you earn.

Caller: But but but..... we're sworn to secrecy.

Me: So am I. have a good day. Click.

No more calls or harassment.

Isn't it funny that this supposedly random inquiry which is mailed to "resident" has bar codes on all the paper and the envelopes that tell them exactly where you are? LOL

And why do they want to know when I am away from home, who is with me in my car and who can dress and bathe themselves in my home? If it were anyone other than the government it would sound like someone was casing my place to be burgled.

Then there are the questions about mental health, how many children have been born to everyone in the house (this includes all residents even live in employees, whether one can dress themselves. They want to know who rides in which car not just as a rule but during which hours. My mortgage or lack of one is between me and my creditors.

Given that census workers have lost hundreds of laptops that c with personal info on them over the years I'm sorry but I'm just not sending, telling or giving that information to anyone. let them get a warrant. They won't of course because the whole thing is based on compliance through fear and ignorance. They haven't fined anyone because they don't want it ever to be challenged in the courts.

Hey it's random. They can get some other sheep to fill it out. Will never be me nor anyone of my family members. We don't cave that easily.

Wow. I have not heard of that survey. I don't think I'd answer it either.

I had a colonoscopy a few weeks ago and they asked me if I felt safe in my home, and if I felt abused, and if I'd ever thought about harming myself. The nurse said they were questions the government was requiring. Strange

We are required to get IRB approval (basically a university/organization committee that says we are ethical respecting people's right to be informed prior to taking part in a research study or completing a survey, etc.) BECAUSE the government allowed researchers to do things like infecting people with syphilis back in the first part of the 20th century ( and did not offer the penicillin once it was found to be a cure...

As researchers we CANNOT require participation and even if someone agrees to participate and then decides not take part, we cannot make then continue. We also CANNOT make someone answer a question- they always have a right to skip it.

I am not as familiar with the ACS as I am with some of the CDC-based surveys. Is the law that you have to answer the survey or just that you have to return it? (my internet is acting up and I cannot access the link)

I try to take part in surveys since I so appreciate people taking part in mine but I also try to be considerate of their privacy. We also family income on surveys and not because we care what an individual family makes but it incomes is one of many measures of socio-economic status (SES) which is highly predictive/correlated with health status. Income is easier for most people to answer than many other measures of SES. That said, I always snicker when people write out to the side "non of your d*** business!". I don't blame then in the least and appreciate any questions they do answer.

Here is a link that might be useful: Research Ethics: The Tuskegee Syphilis Study