FOIA Request to Oconee County Election Department Regarding Ballot Counting Methods on October 29, 2024.
As part of our ongoing commitment to providing comprehensive and accurate news coverage on local governmental affairs, we at Athens Reporter have sent a request under the Georgia Open Records Act § 50.18.70 et seq., to the Oconee County Election Department. The request was made in an effort to gather information about the methods being used by the department to count votes in the upcoming election.
Specifically, we asked for a list of methods they are using to count votes. If any votes are being manually counted, we requested an estimated number of people who will be working on election night.
As a media organization, our role is not only to report news but also to hold public institutions accountable and provide transparency to the public. Access to such public records is essential for us to fulfill these professional responsibilities.
We believe that as media professionals, we are eligible for a fee waiver when requesting this information. We await a response from the Oconee County Election Department and will keep our readers updated with any developments.
Our dedication remains steadfast in ensuring that our community stays informed about all aspects of local government operations, especially those as crucial as our electoral processes.
