A Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was sent to the Banks County Election Department in Georgia on October 29, 2024. The request, issued by us at Georgia Mountain News, sought details about the methods being used by the department to count votes in the upcoming elections.
In our quest for transparency and accountability, we specifically asked for information about whether the vote counting process is manual or automated. If it is manual, we requested an estimate of the number of people who will be working on election night.
As a media organization dedicated to providing comprehensive and accurate news coverage on local governmental affairs, we believe that access to such public records is crucial. This information helps us fulfill our professional responsibilities which include holding public institutions accountable and providing transparency to the public.
We have also requested a fee waiver as a media professional involved in gathering and reporting news to the public.
The request was made under the Georgia Open Records Act § 50.18.70 et seq., with a preference for receiving the information in electronic format.
We are awaiting a response from the Banks County Election Department and will continue to update our readers as more information becomes available.
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