FOIA Request to Hart County Election Department Regarding Ballot Counting Methods on October 29, 2024.
As part of our ongoing commitment to provide comprehensive and accurate news coverage on local governmental affairs, we at Georgia Mountain News have sent a request under the Georgia Open Records Act § 50.18.70 et seq., to the Hart County Election Department.
The request specifically asks for a list of methods they are using to count votes in the upcoming election. If the votes are being counted manually, we have also requested an estimated number of people who will be working on election night.
As media professionals, we believe access to public records is essential for us to fulfill our professional responsibilities, which include holding public institutions accountable and providing transparency to the public. Given our role in disseminating information, we believe we are eligible for a fee waiver as a media organization.
We look forward to receiving this information from the Hart County Election Department and sharing it with our readers in order to shed light on the voting process and uphold transparency in our local government's operations.