A Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was sent to the Monroe County Election Department in Georgia on October 29, 2024. The request was made by Macon Times, a media organization committed to providing comprehensive and accurate news coverage on local governmental affairs.
The specific records requested under the Georgia Open Records Act § 50.18.70 et seq., are details regarding the methods used by the department to count votes. If manual counting is being employed, an estimated number of people expected to be working on election night has also been asked for.
As a media organization, we at Macon Times 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 await a response from the Monroe County Election Department and will keep our readers updated with any developments.