While Washington is on pace to top its 2000 Census participation rate, the city of Vancouver is lagging behind the state average, officials say.
The city’s participation in the Census count is at 60 percent. The state mail-participation rate is 63 percent, which is one point above the national rate. In 2000, the state and national participation rate was 72 percent.
The cities of Olympia, Spokane and Wenatchee lead the state with 66 percent participation.
To urge greater participation, many households in Washington will receive a second round of Census questionnaires. Households that have already returned the form can discard the replacement questionnaires.
It will cost the government $57 to follow up with each household that does not return the questionnaire. The U.S. Census Bureau estimates it will cost $2.7 billion to follow up with all those households.
