How Will the 2011 Population and Housing Census Work in Practice

The Census will be managed, guided and coordinated by the Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic who will cooperate with applicable central government authorities, district offices, municipalities, and higher territorial units. This statistical survey applies to all residents except foreign nationals having diplomatic privileges and immunities. The Census shall also include foreign nationals dwelling in the Slovak Republic at the Point in Time Relevant to the Census. If their length of stay is less than 90 days, they will only provide a limited amount of information. Further, the Census applies to any building intended for residential occupancy or other building that is occupied at the Point in Time Relevant to the Census.

The census taking itself will be conducted by Census Takers. It is the responsibility of municipalities to select their Census Takers and manage their performance. You, too, or your neighbor or acquaintance can become a Census Taker. The condition of becoming a Census Taker is that you need to be a Slovak Republic citizen, at least 18 years of age, be of unimpeachable personal integrity and of full legal capacity. The responsibilities of Census Takers are prescribed by law, as well as the provision that a Census Taker is entitled to receive remuneration for the services performed. The job of a Census Taker is demanding and involves a great responsibility. Through their activity, overall behavior and professional conduct, Census Takers can have a positive impact on the interest of residents in the Census. The 2011 Population and Housing Census will be very similar to that held ten years ago. One novelty in the census taking will be the option of completing the Census Sheets using electronic means.

PRIOR TO THE COUNT

Approximately one week prior to the Point in Time Relevant to the Census, a Census Taker will visit the households that fall within his or her Census Tract. During the conduct of their activity, Census Takers will be required to establish proof of their identity by producing a special authorization issued to them by the mayor of a municipality or a relevant central government authority, where applicable (for Census Takers at Special Census Tracts). A Census Taker will deliver Census Sheets to those members of a household who live therein. In ethnically mixed areas, Census Sheets will also be available, besides the official language, in the languages of the ethnic minorities (Hungarian, Romany, Ukrainian, and Ruthenian); for the blind and partially sighted, explanatory notes to the Census Sheets will be available in Braille. A Census Taker may not enter a residence unless you invite him in. He or she will instruct you on how to fill out the Census Sheets, and will answer your questions. If you are firmly decided to fill out the Census Sheets electronically, please tell your Census Taker.

The Census Taker will give you the following Census Sheets:

• Resident Sheet (one for each household member)
• Apartment Sheet - to be completed by one person for the entire apartment-based household
• House Sheet - to be completed by house owners or, possibly, house managers for each house - one sheet per house

Before you begin filling out the Census Sheets, please read the explanatory notes. The notes should help you write down the information completely, correctly and truthfully. When filling out the forms, please use blue or black ink only. Do not fold the Census Sheets, and protect them from damage or destruction. For the first time in history, you will be allowed to choose whether to complete the Census Sheets in paper or electronic form.

AFTER THE COUNT

After the Point in Time Relevant to the Census, your Census Taker will visit your household again. He or she will help those who ask for assistance to fill in the Census Sheets. He/she will review the completed forms and, if needed, ask you to complete or explain your answers in more detail. A Census Taker will collect completed Census Sheets from all persons within the respective Census Tract who have not got counted electronically.

THE COUNT