A Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was sent to the Franklin County Election Department on October 29, 2024. The request, issued by Georgia Mountain News, seeks details about the methods being used for vote counting in the upcoming elections.
In the request, we at Georgia Mountain News asked for a list of methods that the department is using to count votes. In cases where manual counting is employed, we also requested an estimated number of people who will be working on election night.
As a media organization committed to providing comprehensive and accurate news coverage on local governmental affairs, access to such public records is crucial for us. This information allows us to fulfill our professional responsibilities, which include holding public institutions accountable and providing transparency to the public.
We believe that as members of the media involved in gathering and reporting news to the public, we are eligible for a fee waiver as media professionals. We await a response from the Franklin County Election Department and will continue our efforts in ensuring transparency in our local government’s actions.
