A Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was sent to the Chippewa County Election Department regarding their ballot counting methods on October 30, 2024. The request was made by The Sconi, a media organization committed to providing comprehensive and accurate news coverage on local governmental affairs.
In our pursuit of transparency and accountability in public institutions, we requested specific details under the Wisconsin Open Records Law, §19.31 et seq. We asked for a list of methods the department is using to count ballots for the upcoming election. In case manual counting is employed, we also requested an estimated number of people who will be working on election night.
As a media organization, we believe access to such public records is essential in fulfilling our professional responsibilities. It aids us in our role of holding public institutions accountable and providing transparency to the public. Given our role in disseminating information, we have requested a fee waiver as a media professional.
We are eagerly awaiting a response from the Chippewa County Election Department and will continue to report on this matter as more information becomes available.
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