A Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was sent to the Otsego County Election Division in Michigan on October 30, 2024. The request, made by North Michigan News, seeks access to pre-election test reports for voting machines used in the county's elections.
As part of our commitment to providing comprehensive and accurate news coverage on local governmental affairs, we at North Michigan News have requested these records under the Michigan Freedom of Information Act § 15.231 et seq. Our request specifically asks for the records in an electronic format, preferably as a PDF document.
The details we are seeking in these reports include the date of the test, the manufacture of the machine, its model number, and its status - whether it passed or failed during testing.
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. These responsibilities include holding public institutions accountable and providing transparency to our readership. Given our role in disseminating information, we believe we are eligible for a fee waiver as a media professional.
We will continue our efforts to ensure that election processes are transparent and reliable. As always, we encourage any questions or concerns regarding this matter.
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