A Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was sent to the Burke County Election Department in Georgia on October 29, 2024. The request, made by East Central Georgia News, a media organization committed to providing comprehensive and accurate news coverage on local governmental affairs, seeks details about the methods used by the department to count votes.
In the request, we asked for a list of methods being used to count votes. If manual counting is employed, we requested an estimated number of people who will be working on election night. This information is crucial in understanding how our local government handles the election process and ensures its integrity.
As a media organization dedicated to transparency and accountability in public institutions, we believe access to such records is essential. It allows us to fulfill our professional responsibilities which include disseminating accurate information to the public and holding these institutions accountable.
We have also requested a fee waiver as part of this FOIA request due to our role as a media organization involved in gathering and reporting news to the public.
We await a response from the Burke County Election Department and will continue our efforts in providing transparency in local governmental affairs.