A Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was sent to the Columbia 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 requesting a list of all candidates running for the upcoming election. We asked for this information preferably in an electronic format for ease of access and analysis.
The details requested about each candidate included their first, middle, and last names; the office they are running for; the jurisdiction of that office; and their party affiliation. Additionally, we also requested all available contact information for each candidate including their address, phone number, and email address.
As a media organization committed to public service journalism, we believe that access to public records is essential in fulfilling our professional responsibilities. These include holding public institutions accountable and providing transparency to the public. Given our role in disseminating information to the public, we have requested a fee waiver as a media professional.
We continue to await a response from the Columbia County Election Department regarding this request.
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