A Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was sent to Dane County on September 25, 2024, by The Sconi, a media organization committed to comprehensive and accurate news coverage on local governmental affairs.
The request was made under the Wisconsin Open Records Law, §19.31 et seq., with a preference for an electronic format. We at The Sconi are seeking detailed information about absentee ballots for the upcoming November 5, 2024 General Election.
Specifically, we requested data fields including Voter ID, Registration Date, Age or Date of Birth, Full Name (including First Name, Middle Name, Last Name and any Name Suffix), Registration Status and Reason, County and Precinct of registration. Additionally, we also asked for voters’ contact details such as Address, City, State, Phone number and Email Address.
In terms of political affiliation and voting specifics, we sought information about Party Affiliation and Absentee Status. Furthermore, we requested data related to the ballot itself such as Ballot ID; Election Date for ballots sent; Request Type (whether it’s Absentee, Mail-In, Early Voting or Overseas); Ballot Request Date; Ballot Send date; Ballot Return date; and finally the status of the ballot whether it has been Accepted or Rejected.
As a member of the media organization The Sconi that is 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 this crucial information from Dane County that will contribute significantly towards our ongoing coverage of the 2024 General Election.
