A Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was sent to the Barron County Election Department in Wisconsin 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.
In our quest for transparency and accountability, we asked for specific records under the Wisconsin Open Records Law, §19.31 et seq., preferably in electronic format. The requested information pertains to the methods used by the department to count ballots in the upcoming elections. If the counting process is manual, we also requested an estimated number of people who will be working on election night.
As a media organization, we believe that 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. We believe that this information will not only enlighten us but also empower the public with knowledge about how their votes are being handled.
We have sought a fee waiver as a media professional due to our role in disseminating information to the public. We await a positive response from the Barron County Election Department as we continue our mission of promoting transparency and accountability in local government affairs.
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