A Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was sent to the Richland County Election Department in Wisconsin on October 30, 2024. The request, made by The Sconi, a media organization dedicated to comprehensive and accurate news coverage on local governmental affairs, sought information about the methods used by the department to count ballots in the upcoming elections.
In particular, The Sconi requested a detailed list of these methods. If manual counting is employed, the media outlet also asked for an estimated number of people who would be working on election night.
As part of our journalistic duties at The Sconi, we are committed to holding public institutions accountable and providing transparency to the public. Access to such public records is essential for us to fulfill our professional responsibilities. Given our role in disseminating information, we believe we are eligible for a fee waiver as a media professional.
The Richland County Election Department has yet to respond to this FOIA request. We will continue our efforts in ensuring transparency and accountability in local government affairs.
