A Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was sent to the Lee County Election Department on October 29, 2024. The request, issued by Albany Standard, a media organization dedicated to comprehensive and accurate news coverage on local governmental affairs, seeks information about the methods used for counting votes in the upcoming election.
In particular, the FOIA request asks for details on whether the vote counting process is manual or automated. If it is manually counted, Albany Standard has requested an estimated number of people who will be working on election night.
As a media organization, we at Albany Standard believe that access to public records is crucial for us to fulfill our professional responsibilities. These include holding public institutions accountable and providing transparency to the public. In light of our role in disseminating information, we have requested a fee waiver as a media professional under the Georgia Open Records Act § 50.18.70 et seq.
The response from the Lee County Election Department will provide valuable insight into how votes are counted and processed in Georgia’s elections. It will also shed light on the resources allocated for this vital democratic process.
We await their response and look forward to sharing this information with our readership as part of our ongoing commitment to transparency and accountability in local government affairs.
