A Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was sent to the Columbia County Election Department in Georgia on October 29, 2024. The request was made by East Central Georgia News, a media organization committed to providing comprehensive and accurate news coverage on local governmental affairs.
The FOIA request specifically asked for a list of methods being used by the department to count votes in the upcoming election. If the votes are being counted manually, the department is also asked to provide an estimated number of people who will be working on election night.
As members of the media, we at East Central Georgia News 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.
We believe that as media professionals, we are eligible for a fee waiver when requesting such information. This request is part of our ongoing commitment to ensuring transparency and accountability in local government affairs.
The Columbia County Election Department has yet to respond to this FOIA request. We will continue following up with them and keep our readers updated with any developments.