A Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was submitted to the Cass County Election Division on February 5, 2025. The request, sent by St. Joe-Benton Harbor News, a media organization dedicated to comprehensive and accurate news coverage of local governmental affairs, sought detailed information about all candidates running in the upcoming election.
In line with the Michigan Freedom of Information Act § 15.231 et seq., we requested this information preferably in an electronic format. The specifics of our request included the first, middle, and last names of all candidates. We also asked for details about the office they are running for and its jurisdiction, as well as each candidate's party affiliation.
To facilitate direct communication with these individuals for follow-up interviews or clarifications, we also requested contact information for each candidate. This includes their address, phone number, and email address.
As a media organization, we at St. Joe-Benton Harbor News believe that access to public records is crucial in fulfilling our professional responsibilities. These include holding public institutions accountable and providing transparency to the public. Given our role in disseminating information to the public, we expressed our belief that we are eligible for a fee waiver as a media professional.
We await a response from the Cass County Election Division regarding this request and will continue our efforts to provide comprehensive coverage of local governmental affairs.
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