A Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was sent to the Yancey County Election Department on October 30, 2024. The request, made by High Country Times, a media organization dedicated to comprehensive and accurate news coverage of local governmental affairs, asked for specific records related to pre-election voting machine tests.
In the interest of transparency and public accountability, we at High Country Times requested the records under the North Carolina Public Records Law, G.S. §132-1. The information sought includes details about each voting machine’s test date, manufacturer, model number, and status (whether it passed or failed the test).
The request specifically asked for this information in a PDF format. As a media organization involved in gathering and reporting news to the public, access to such public records is essential for us to fulfill our professional responsibilities. This includes 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 a media professional. We await a response from the Yancey County Election Department regarding this request.
