A Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was sent to the Dare County Election Department regarding the pre-election test report for voting machines on October 30, 2024. The request was made by Outer Banks Times, a media organization dedicated to providing comprehensive and accurate news coverage on local governmental affairs.
In the request, we asked for access to public records under the North Carolina Public Records Law, G.S. ยง132-1. Specifically, we sought information about the elections voting machines pre-election test report in PDF format with specific fields including the test date, machine manufacture, machine model number, and machine status (pass or fail).
As a media organization, we believe that access to public records is essential for fulfilling our professional responsibilities which include holding public institutions accountable and providing transparency to the public. Given our role in disseminating information, we also requested a fee waiver as a media professional.
The Dare County Election Department has yet to respond to our request. We will continue to pursue this matter in our ongoing effort to provide thorough and accurate reporting on local government affairs.
