A Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was sent to the Whitfield County Election Department on October 29, 2024. The request, made by NW Georgia News, sought details about the methods used by the department to count votes.
As a media organization dedicated to providing comprehensive and accurate news coverage on local governmental affairs, we at NW Georgia News believe that access to such information is essential for our work. It enables us to hold public institutions accountable and provide transparency to the public.
The specific records requested under the Georgia Open Records Act § 50.18.70 et seq., were a list of methods used by the Whitfield County Election Department to count votes. If manual counting is involved, we also requested an estimated number of people who would be working on election night.
We reiterated our role as members of the media involved in gathering and reporting news to the public and stated our belief that we are eligible for a fee waiver as media professionals due to our role in disseminating information.
We await a response from the Whitfield County Election Department and will continue striving towards ensuring transparency in all matters related to local government affairs.
Alerts Sign-up