A Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was sent to the Wilkes County Election Department regarding pre-election voting machine test reports on October 30, 2024. The request was made by High Country Times, a media organization dedicated to providing comprehensive and accurate news coverage on local governmental affairs.
In our pursuit of transparency and accountability in public institutions, we at High Country Times requested access to specific records under the North Carolina Public Records Law, G.S. §132-1. Specifically, we sought information about the pre-election tests conducted on voting machines in electronic format, preferably in PDF.
The requested data includes the date of the test, the manufacturer of the machine, the model number of the machine, and whether each machine passed or failed its test. This information is crucial for us to provide a clear picture of election preparedness and equipment reliability to our readers.
As part of our commitment to informing the public and holding public institutions accountable, we believe that access to these records is essential. We also indicated our eligibility for a fee waiver as a media professional involved in gathering and reporting news.
High Country Times remains committed to promoting transparency in local government affairs and will continue to seek relevant information through lawful means such as FOIA requests.
