A Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was submitted to the Wake County Election Department on October 30, 2024. The request was made by North Raleigh Today, a media organization dedicated to delivering comprehensive and accurate news coverage on local governmental affairs.
In our quest for transparency and accountability in public institutions, we sought access to public records under the North Carolina Public Records Law, G.S. §132-1. Specifically, we requested electronic copies of pre-election test reports for voting machines used in the upcoming elections.
The information requested included the date of testing, machine manufacturer details, machine model numbers, and the status of each machine – whether it passed or failed its pre-election test. We asked for these records to be provided in PDF format.
As a media organization actively involved in gathering and reporting news to the public, we believe that access to such public records is crucial for us to fulfill our professional responsibilities. This includes holding public institutions accountable and providing transparency to the public.
We also noted our eligibility for a fee waiver as a media professional due to our role in disseminating information.
Our commitment remains steadfast in ensuring that our readers are well-informed about matters that directly affect them. We continue to rely on FOIA requests as an essential tool in uncovering important information about government operations and activities.
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