A Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was sent to the Wayne 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 FOIA request, we asked for specific records under the Georgia Open Records Act § 50.18.70 et seq., specifically seeking information about the methods used by the department to count votes. If manual counting is employed, we requested an estimated number of people who would be working on election night.
As members of the media, we are involved in gathering and reporting news to the public. Access to public records is essential for us to fulfill our professional responsibilities, which include holding public institutions accountable and providing transparency to the public. Given our role in disseminating information, we believe we are eligible for a fee waiver as media professionals.
We will continue our pursuit of transparency and accountability from our local government bodies and keep you updated with any developments regarding this FOIA request.
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