A Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was sent to the Charlton County Election Department on October 29, 2024. The request was made by Coastal GA News, a media organization dedicated to providing comprehensive and accurate news coverage on local governmental affairs.
The FOIA request specifically asked for records under the Georgia Open Records Act § 50.18.70 et seq., pertaining to the methods being used by the department to count votes in the upcoming election. In addition, if manual counting is being employed, Coastal GA News requested an estimated number of people who will be working on election night.
As members of the media, we at Coastal GA News are involved in gathering and reporting news to the public. Access to public records is essential for us to fulfill our professional responsibilities, which include holding public institutions accountable and providing transparency to the public.
Given our role in disseminating information, we believe we are eligible for a fee waiver as media professionals. We await a response from the Charlton County Election Department regarding this matter and will keep our readers updated with any developments.
