A Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was sent to the McDowell County Election Department on October 30, 2024. The request, made by Foothills Review, a media organization dedicated to providing comprehensive and accurate news coverage on local governmental affairs, asked for access to pre-election voting machine test reports.
The specific details requested in the FOIA include the test date, machine manufacture, machine model number, and machine status (whether it passed or failed). These records were requested under the North Carolina Public Records Law, G.S. §132-1., preferably in electronic format.
As a media organization committed to holding public institutions accountable and providing transparency to the public, we at Foothills Review believe that access to these records is essential for fulfilling our professional responsibilities. We also believe that as a media professional involved in gathering and reporting news to the public, we are eligible for a fee waiver.
We await the response from the McDowell County Election Department regarding this request. As always, our aim is to ensure that government actions are transparent and accountable to the public.
