Legal Question in Constitutional Law in Georgia

Census Refusal

I recieved the long form for the 2000 census and do not want to answer the personal questions ask. I do not mind the count of the population. Do I have the right to refuse the personal questions that invade privacy and what are the concequences if I dont?


Asked on 3/14/00, 1:16 pm

2 Answers from Attorneys
Edward Hoffman Law Offices of Edward A. Hoffman

Re: Census Refusal

The census is mandatory and you do not have the right to refuse to answer. The form you received might spell out just what the penalties are.

The Census Bureau is required by law not to reveal your answers for any reason; I believe the information must remain confidential for 99 years, but I could be wrong about this. Believe it or not, the Census Bureau is VERY serious about guarding the confidentiality of people's answers, and always refuses to reveal the information to anyone who asks, regardless of the reason. The census bureau fights subpoenas seeking this information and, so far as I know, it always wins. The information you provide is very secure, and you should not be concerned about answering.

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Answered on 3/23/00, 2:12 pm
Ken Koury Kenneth P. Koury, Esq.

Re: Census Refusal

The penalty is a $100 fine but in the last census not a single person was give a fine.

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Answered on 3/23/00, 3:45 pm


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