A Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was sent to the Brown County Election Department on October 30, 2024. The request was made by The Sconi, a media organization committed to providing comprehensive and accurate news coverage on local governmental affairs.
The Sconi is seeking records under the Wisconsin Open Records Law, §19.31 et seq., specifically requesting information about the methods being used to count ballots in the upcoming election. If manual counting is being employed, The Sconi has also requested an estimated number of people who will be working on election night.
As members of the media, we at The Sconi are involved in gathering and reporting news to the public. 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 media professionals.
We look forward to receiving a response from the Brown County Election Department regarding this matter.
