A Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was sent to the Chippewa County Election Department in Wisconsin on February 5, 2025. The request was made by The Sconi, a media organization dedicated to providing comprehensive and accurate news coverage on local governmental affairs.
In the request, we sought records under the Wisconsin Open Records Law, §19.31 et seq., specifically asking for a list of all candidates running in the upcoming election. The details requested for each candidate included their first, middle and last names; the office they are running for; jurisdiction of the office; party affiliation; and contact information such as address, phone number, and email address.
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 mentioned our eligibility for a fee waiver as a media professional due to our role in disseminating information.
The FOIA request is part of our ongoing commitment at The Sconi to provide thorough coverage of local elections and ensure that voters have access to all necessary information about candidates running for office.
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