'Official' Census Letter Raises Questions

SMYRNA, GA - Like many people in Georgia, Anne Wilson of Smyrna got a so-called "official" census letter in the mail this week.

When she read it more closely, she realized it had nothing to do with the U.S. Census, so she e-mailed 11 Alive to complain.

"I got real upset 'cause I think a lot of people would just automatically fill it out," she told us in a Thursday TV interview, "It's their civic duty; by law they have to fill out the census."

Turns out I and many others across the country have received the same survey letter which is titled the "2009 Congressional District Census".

The outside of the envelope is stamped "Do Not Destroy, Official Document".

The survey lists a specific congressional district and includes an individual "Census Tracking Code", with the request, "Please Respond by: November 16, 2009".

Once you begin reading it, it's clear that it's a political survey from the national Republican Party that makes a plea for donations.

But Anne Wilson is concerned that some people, especially senior citizens, may think they must return it.

"I could see a lot of my neighbors that are older who would get something like this in the mail and fill it out," she adds, "all the information, every little section, and send in money."

We showed the letter to some other Smyrna residents who also thought it was questionable.

"It's very misleading," Consuelo Hudson told us, "I don't think anybody should actually fill this out or send it in."

We contacted the national Republican Party in Washington about their national "Census of Congressional Districts", but they have yet to respond to our questions.

A spokesman for the Atlanta regional office of the U.S. Census Bureau said the document is technically legal.

But he pointed out that the officials U.S. Census Bureau questionnaire won't be mailed out until next March.

It just so happens today is also the day the Census Bureau put up its official website about the 2010 census which answers questions about how the process will work and what is required by law.

That site is: http://2010.census.gov/2010census/