A Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was sent to the Hertford County Election Department in North Carolina on October 30, 2024. The request, made by IBX News, a media organization dedicated to comprehensive and accurate coverage of local governmental affairs, seeks access to records pertaining to pre-election voting machine test reports.
The requested records fall under the jurisdiction of the North Carolina Public Records Law, G.S. §132-1., and are preferably sought in an electronic format for ease of access and dissemination. The specific details requested include the test date, machine manufacture, machine model number, and machine status – whether it passed or failed.
As members of the media at IBX News, we are involved in gathering and reporting news to the public. Access to these public records is crucial 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 will continue to pursue this information in our ongoing efforts to provide thorough coverage of local government affairs. We believe that transparency is key in maintaining trust between government institutions and the communities they serve. As such, we will update our readers with any developments regarding this FOIA request.
