A Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was sent to the Rabun County Election Department on February 5, 2025. The request was made by us at Georgia Mountain News, a media organization dedicated to providing comprehensive and accurate news coverage on local governmental affairs.
The records requested under the Georgia Open Records Act § 50.18.70 et seq., are for a list of all candidates running in the upcoming election. The specific details sought include each candidate’s first, middle, and last name; the office they are running for; jurisdiction of the office; and party affiliation.
In addition to these details, we also requested contact information for each candidate, including their address, phone number, and email address. As a media organization committed to transparency and accountability in public institutions, we believe access to such public records is crucial in fulfilling our professional responsibilities.
We have also stated our eligibility for a fee waiver as a media professional due to our role in gathering and disseminating information to the public. We await a response from the Rabun County Election Department regarding this request.
