A Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was sent to the Brantley County Election Department in Georgia on October 29, 2024. The request was made by SE Georgia News, a media organization dedicated to providing comprehensive and accurate news coverage on local governmental affairs.
In the request, we asked for records under the Georgia Open Records Act § 50.18.70 et seq., specifically seeking information about the methods being used to count votes in the upcoming election. If votes are being counted manually, we also requested an estimated number of people who will be working on election night.
As a media organization, we believe that access to public records is essential for us to fulfill our professional responsibilities. These include holding public institutions accountable and providing transparency to the public. Given our role in disseminating information, we requested a fee waiver as a media professional.
We are awaiting a response from the Brantley County Election Department and will keep our readers updated with any developments.