Q: I live in texas & got an acs letter from census what r my rights not to b forced to answer personal intrusive questions?
A: 18 U.S.C. sec 3571 and 3559 require you to answer all questions. Fortunately, the ACS does not ask personal intrusive questions. It's pretty much demographics, questions about housing, education, health insurance. Run-of-the-mill stuff.
Lawyers, want to be a Justia Connect Pro too? Learn more ›
- (916) 704-3009
- View Profile
- Answered
A:
If you receive an American Community Survey (ACS) letter from the Census Bureau, you are legally required to respond. However, there are some important things to know about your rights. The Census Bureau states that the information you provide is confidential and used only for statistical purposes.
You have the right to understand how your information will be used and to ask questions if you have concerns about privacy or confidentiality. While there are legal obligations to respond to the ACS, there is no requirement to answer every single question if you find them too intrusive. The Census Bureau encourages full participation to ensure accurate data collection, but they cannot force you to provide information that makes you uncomfortable.
It's also good to know that there are penalties for refusing to participate, but these are rarely enforced. You can contact the Census Bureau directly if you have more questions or concerns about the survey. Understanding your rights helps you make an informed decision about how to respond.
1 user found this answer helpful
Justia Ask a Lawyer is a forum for consumers to get answers to basic legal questions. Any information sent through Justia Ask a Lawyer is not secure and is done so on a non-confidential basis only.
The use of this website to ask questions or receive answers does not create an attorney–client relationship between you and Justia, or between you and any attorney who receives your information or responds to your questions, nor is it intended to create such a relationship. Additionally, no responses on this forum constitute legal advice, which must be tailored to the specific circumstances of each case. You should not act upon information provided in Justia Ask a Lawyer without seeking professional counsel from an attorney admitted or authorized to practice in your jurisdiction. Justia assumes no responsibility to any person who relies on information contained on or received through this site and disclaims all liability in respect to such information.
Justia cannot guarantee that the information on this website (including any legal information provided by an attorney through this service) is accurate, complete, or up-to-date. While we intend to make every attempt to keep the information on this site current, the owners of and contributors to this site make no claims, promises or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness or adequacy of the information contained in or linked to from this site.
