A Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was sent to the Berrien County Election Division regarding pre-election voting machine test reports on October 30, 2024. The request was made by St. Joe-Benton Harbor News, a media organization dedicated to providing comprehensive and accurate news coverage on local governmental affairs.
In the interest of transparency and accountability, we sought access to public records detailing the testing of voting machines ahead of the upcoming elections. The specific information requested includes the date of testing, machine manufacturer details, machine model numbers, and their status – whether they passed or failed in the tests.
The request was made under the Michigan Freedom of Information Act § 15.231 et seq., with a preference for receiving the records in an electronic format. As part of our commitment to disseminating vital information to the public, we believe that access to these records is crucial for fulfilling our professional responsibilities.
In line with this commitment, we also expressed our eligibility for a fee waiver as a media professional engaged in gathering and reporting news to the public. This fee waiver is important as it facilitates our role in holding public institutions accountable and providing transparency to our audience.
We at St. Joe-Benton Harbor News continue to uphold our duty in keeping the public informed about local governmental affairs and will share any updates regarding this FOIA request as soon as they become available.
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