The once-every-10-years national nose-count is coming up on a big deadline.  Friday’s the day the Census wants to have your household’s info returned. They call it “Take 10” – 10 simple questions, on a form that should take 10 minutes or less to fill out.

Washington state’s return rate thus far is 69 percent (compared with 72 percent last time around).  Oregon’s return rate is also 69 percent, Idaho 71 percent and California 66.  Census workers will have to physically track down each household that hasn’t mailed back by Friday, and they say the manpower and overhead costs a bundle.

State and federal constitutions make the Census mandatory. Secretary of State Sam Reed, who is urging Washington citizens to take part in the confidential and non-intrusive Census, says the info is important because it helps determine how many seats Washington will have in Congress for the next 10 years, and will ensure that the state gets is fair share of federal funds for infrastructure and services.