The U.S. Census Bureau has begun a 100-day tour of New England to encourage people to complete census forms when they are mailed later this year.

Other regional tours will be spreading the word throughout the nation. The message of the national $300 million campaign is that participating in the head count is both advantageous and the responsible thing to do.

It’s a message that Mainers should heed, to get the best possible count. The state’s population growth has been sluggish since the 2000 census, and last year Maine lost about 1,400 residents, making it one of just three states (with Michigan and Rhode Island) to lose population, according to the Census Bureau.

A declining population can be an economic liability. Population figures set by the Census Bureau are used in the distribution of federal funds for hospitals, job training centers, emergency services and public works projects. The data are also used in apportioning congressional seats and Electoral College votes, and are reviewed by corporations considering their options for expansion.

The 2010 census will also provide the basic data for medical and science research projects, to advocate for change and to establish public policy. For the next 10 years, this count will set the official baseline for every population-based study.

Inevitably there will be some who resent a government effort to catalog the American people; perhaps we will hear this effort characterized by talkers on the right as an example of a big government boondoggle. But political activists are not likely to encourage their partisans to avoid being counted, thus remaining invisible to politicians and policymakers.

Filling out a census form, like voting, is one of those essential chores of citizenship that we should undertake even though no immediate incentive is apparent. Strong participation may not make a big difference on Maine’s bottom line, but this is a year to stand up and be counted.

Forms will be mailed in March, followed by a postcard reminder and, for those who don’t respond, a visit from a census taker. The “Mail It Back” campaign hopes to increase the response rate above the 67 percent achieved in 2000.

The 10-question form is one of the shortest in the history of the census. Residents will be asked the number of people living in each household as well as their age, race and whether they own their home or rent. Unlike the forms sent out by the IRS, the U.S. Census has no cost for participation: A postage-paid envelope is included.

— Questions? Comments? Contact Managing Editor Nick Cowenhoven at nickc@journaltribune.com or City Editor Kristen Schulze Muszynski at kristenm@journaltribune.com.