FOIA Request to Oconee County Election Department Regarding Information on Upcoming Election Candidates on February 5, 2025.
In a bid to uphold transparency and keep the public informed, we at Athens Reporter sent a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request to the Oconee County Election Department. The request was made under the Georgia Open Records Act § 50.18.70 et seq., with a preference for electronic format delivery.
The records requested include a comprehensive list of all candidates running in the upcoming election. We asked for details such as the candidate’s first, middle, and last names; the office they are running for; jurisdiction of the office; and party affiliation.
In addition to these details, we also requested contact information for each candidate. This includes their address, phone number, and email address.
As a media organization committed to providing comprehensive and accurate news coverage on local governmental affairs, access to public records is essential for us at Athens Reporter. It enables us to fulfill our professional responsibilities which include holding public institutions accountable and providing transparency to the public.
We believe that as members of the media involved in gathering and reporting news to the public, we are eligible for a fee waiver as media professionals.
We await a response from the Oconee County Election Department and will continue our work in disseminating crucial information about local government affairs to our readership.
