A Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was sent to the Barrow County Election Department on February 5, 2025. The request, filed by us at Athens Reporter, seeks detailed information about all candidates running in the upcoming election.
The specific details requested under the Georgia Open Records Act § 50.18.70 et seq., include each candidate’s full name, the office they are running for, their jurisdiction of office and party affiliation. Additionally, we have asked for comprehensive contact information for each candidate such as their address, phone number and email address.
As a media organization dedicated to providing comprehensive and accurate news coverage on local governmental affairs, access to public records is crucial for our work. This information allows us to hold public institutions accountable and provide transparency to the public.
We believe that as a media professional disseminating information to the public, we are eligible for a fee waiver. We await a response from the Barrow County Election Department regarding this request and will continue to strive towards providing our readers with timely and accurate information about their local government elections.
