A Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was sent to the Beaver County Election Department regarding pre-election voting machine test reports on October 30, 2024. The request was made by Beaver County News, a media organization dedicated to providing comprehensive and accurate news coverage on local governmental affairs.
In the request, we sought records under the Pennsylvania Right to Know Law, specifically seeking access to the pre-election test reports for the county's voting machines. We requested these documents in an electronic format, preferably as PDF files.
The specific fields we asked for in the report include the test date, machine manufacture, machine model number, and machine status - whether it passed or failed.
As a media organization, we underscored our role in gathering and reporting news to the public. We emphasized that 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.
Given our role in disseminating information, we believe we are eligible for a fee waiver as a media professional. We await a response from the Beaver County Election Department and will continue to work towards ensuring transparency and accountability in our local government.
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