FOIA Request to Gaston County Election Department Regarding Pre-Election Voting Machine Test Reports on October 30, 2024.
We at the Gastonia Times have officially sent a request for public records under the North Carolina Public Records Law, G.S. §132-1. The request specifically asks for the pre-election test reports of voting machines used in the recent elections.
The requested documents are expected to provide comprehensive details about each voting machine's performance before they were deployed for election duties. Specifically, we have asked for information including the date of testing, machine manufacture, machine model number, and the status of each machine - whether it passed or failed its pre-election test.
As a media organization dedicated to providing accurate news coverage on local governmental affairs, access to such public records is crucial in fulfilling our professional responsibilities. This includes holding public institutions accountable and ensuring transparency for the public we serve.
Given our role in disseminating information to the public, we believe that we are eligible for a fee waiver as a media professional under FOIA guidelines. We await a positive response from the Gaston County Election Department regarding this request.
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