Amidst census takers fanning out today across Central Texas and the rest of the country as a part of the next phase of the 2010 Census, Travis County advocates have initiated with e-mailing tens of thousands of residents in a view to urge them to participate.

In Travis, Williamson, Hays, Bastrop and Caldwell counties, between 3,500 and 4,000 workers is reported to participate in the next phase today of the 2010 count, knocking every doorstep that either didn't emailed their census form or didn't receive one, making sure that the 10-question form is completed by everyone.

"We want to be sure that people know how to recognize a census worker, and we want them to have a comfort level when they come knocking at their doors," said Bruce Elfant, a Travis County constable who is co-chairman of the Travis County Complete Count Committee.

He added that census takers are to present their Department of Commerce ID badge; in addition they may also be bearing a canvass bag with a Census Bureau logo embossed.

The Better Business Bureau in Austin in a statement Friday, posted that a census taker will never ask to enter a home. In addition, it has allotted each one of them following number in a view to check their identity: 800-563-6499.