A Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was sent to the Miller County Election Department in Georgia on October 29, 2024. The request, made by SW Georgia News, sought information regarding the methods used by the department to count votes in upcoming elections.
In our pursuit of comprehensive and accurate news coverage on local governmental affairs, we requested specific details under the Georgia Open Records Act § 50.18.70 et seq. We asked for a list of methods they are using to count votes. If manual counting is employed, we also requested an estimated number of people who will be working on election night.
As a media organization committed to providing transparency and holding public institutions accountable, access to such public records is crucial for us at SW Georgia News. We believe that understanding the processes behind vote counting can help ensure fairness and integrity in our democratic process.
We hope that this information will not only aid us in our reporting but also provide valuable insights to our readers about how their votes are processed and counted.
We have requested these records preferably in electronic format and as a media professional organization, we have also applied for a fee waiver. We await a response from the Miller County Election Department and will keep our readers updated on any developments.