FOIA Request to Polk County Election Department Regarding Ballot Counting Methods on October 30, 2024.
In our ongoing efforts to provide comprehensive and accurate news coverage on local governmental affairs, we at The Sconi have submitted a request under the Wisconsin Open Records Law, §19.31 et seq., for information about the methods being used to count ballots in the upcoming election.
We are particularly interested in understanding whether these ballots will be counted manually or by some other means. If manual counting is being employed, we have also requested an estimate of the number of people who will be working on election night.
As journalists, access to public records is essential for us to fulfill our professional responsibilities. These 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 await a response from the Polk County Election Department and will continue to keep our readers informed about this and other important aspects of the electoral process.
