A Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was sent to the Barrow County Election Department on October 29, 2024. The request was made by Athens Reporter, a media organization committed to providing comprehensive and accurate news coverage on local governmental affairs.
The request specifically sought information about the methods being used by the department to count votes in the upcoming election. If manual counting is being employed, the Athens Reporter has also requested an estimated number of people who will be working on election night.
As members of the media, we at Athens Reporter are involved in gathering and reporting news to the public. Access to public records is essential for us to fulfill our professional responsibilities, which include holding public institutions accountable and providing transparency to the public. Given our role in disseminating information, we believe we are eligible for a fee waiver as media professionals.
We eagerly await a response from the Barrow County Election Department and will continue to strive for transparency and accountability in our coverage of local governmental affairs.
