A Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was sent to the Orange County Election Department regarding pre-election voting machine test reports on October 30, 2024. The request was made by Chapel Hill Review, a media organization dedicated to providing comprehensive and accurate news coverage on local governmental affairs.
The records requested under the North Carolina Public Records Law, G.S. §132-1., are for the elections voting machines pre-election test report in PDF format. Specifically, the following fields were asked for:
- Test date
- Machine Manufacture
- Machine Model Number
- Machine Status (Pass or Failed)
As a media organization, Chapel Hill Review plays a crucial role in gathering and reporting news to the public. Access to public records is essential for us to fulfill our professional responsibilities, which 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 the response from the Orange County Election Department regarding this matter.