A Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was sent to the Clark County Election Department regarding their ballot counting methods on October 30, 2024. The request was initiated by The Sconi, a media organization dedicated to providing comprehensive and accurate news coverage on local governmental affairs.
In the request, we sought information under the Wisconsin Open Records Law, §19.31 et seq., specifically asking for a list of methods the department is using to count ballots in the upcoming election. If manual counting is employed, we requested an estimated number of people who will be working on election night.
As a media organization, we emphasized our role in gathering and reporting news to the public. Access to public records is crucial for us to fulfill our professional responsibilities which include holding public institutions accountable and providing transparency to the public. We also noted our eligibility for a fee waiver as a media professional due to our role in disseminating information.
The request underscores our commitment at The Sconi to keep the public informed about important aspects of local governance such as election processes.
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