A Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was submitted to the Forest County Election Department in Wisconsin on February 5, 2025. The request was made by The Sconi, a media organization committed to 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 asking for a list of all candidates running in the upcoming election. The requested information includes the first, middle, and last names of the candidates; the office they are running for; jurisdiction of the office; and party affiliation of each candidate.
In addition to this, The Sconi has also requested contact information for each candidate. This includes their address, phone number, and email address.
As members of the media, we at The Sconi believe access to public records is essential for fulfilling our professional responsibilities. These include holding public institutions accountable and providing transparency to the public. Given our role in disseminating information, we have asked for a fee waiver as a media professional.
We are awaiting a response from the Forest County Election Department regarding this request.
