A Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was sent to the Charlevoix County Election Division in Michigan on October 30, 2024. The request was made by North Michigan News, a media organization dedicated to providing comprehensive and accurate news coverage on local governmental affairs.
In the request, we sought access to public records under the Michigan Freedom of Information Act § 15.231 et seq., specifically asking for pre-election test reports for voting machines used in the county's elections. We requested these records in an electronic format, preferably as PDF files.
The specific details we asked for in these reports include the date of the test, the manufacturer of the machine, the model number of the machine, and whether each machine passed or failed its pre-election test.
As a media organization, our role is to gather and report news to the public. Access to public records like these is essential for us to fulfill our professional responsibilities. These responsibilities include holding public institutions accountable and providing transparency to the public. As such, we believe we are eligible for a fee waiver as a media professional.
Our aim is always to keep our readers informed about important issues affecting their communities. This includes ensuring that election processes are transparent and reliable. By accessing these records, we hope to provide valuable insights into how well voting machines are tested before they are used in elections.
We await a response from the Charlevoix County Election Division regarding our request.
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