A Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was sent to the Macon County Election Department in North Carolina regarding pre-election voting machine test reports on October 30, 2024. The request was made by Nantahala News, a media organization committed to providing comprehensive and accurate news coverage on local governmental affairs.
We at Nantahala News are seeking access to these records under the North Carolina Public Records Law, G.S. ยง132-1. Specifically, we have requested the pre-election test reports for election voting machines in PDF format with specific fields. These fields include the test date, machine manufacture, machine model number, and machine status indicating whether it passed or failed.
As a media organization involved in gathering and reporting news to the public, access to public records is essential for us to fulfill our professional responsibilities. These responsibilities include holding public institutions accountable and providing transparency to the public. In light of our role in disseminating information, we believe we are eligible for a fee waiver as a media professional.
The requested information will help us ensure that the voting machines used in elections are thoroughly tested and functioning correctly before being used by voters. This contributes significantly towards maintaining transparency and trust in our electoral process.
We look forward to receiving this important information from the Macon County Election Department soon.
