A Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was sent to the Iowa County Election Department regarding their ballot counting methods on October 30, 2024. The request was made by The Sconi, a media organization dedicated to providing comprehensive and accurate news coverage on local governmental affairs.
The Sconi is seeking information under the Wisconsin Open Records Law, §19.31 et seq., specifically requesting details about the methods used by the department to count ballots in the upcoming elections. If manual counting is being employed, The Sconi has also asked for an estimated number of people who will be working on election night.
As a media organization committed to transparency and accountability in public institutions, we believe that access to such records is essential for fulfilling our professional responsibilities. It allows us to inform the public accurately about how their votes are being processed and counted.
We have requested these records preferably in electronic format and have applied for a fee waiver as a media professional. This waiver is based on our role in gathering and reporting news to the public, which we believe qualifies us for such an exemption.
The Sconi awaits a response from the Iowa County Election Department and remains committed to keeping the public informed about important developments related to their voting rights and processes.
