A Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was sent to the Cook County Election Department on October 29, 2024. The request was made by South Georgia Times, a media organization dedicated to providing comprehensive and accurate news coverage on local governmental affairs.
In our quest for transparency and accountability in public institutions, we sought specific records under the Georgia Open Records Act § 50.18.70 et seq. The records requested were details regarding the methods being used by the department to count votes in the upcoming election. If manual counting is being employed, we also asked for an estimated number of people who would be working on election night.
As a media organization, access to public records is essential for us to fulfill our professional responsibilities. This includes holding public institutions accountable and providing transparency to the public. We believe that as a media professional, we are eligible for a fee waiver when requesting such information.
We at South Georgia Times remain committed to ensuring that our readers are well-informed about local government affairs and will continue to seek information that promotes transparency and accountability in our democratic processes.
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