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Anjana Susarla, Michigan State University

(THE CONVERSATION) The U.S. Census Bureau is hoping that most people who live in the U.S. will use the internet to answer census questions, rather than filling out a paper form or providing those answers to a census taker in person, at their home.

That would be cheaper – a plus for a budget-strappedCensus Bureau – and could help ensure maximum turnout and accuracy of the count. For instance, databases could keep track of which homes have no...