A Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was sent to the Fayette County Election Department regarding pre-election voting machine test reports on October 30, 2024. The request was made by Laurel Highlands Today, a media organization committed to providing comprehensive and accurate news coverage on local governmental affairs.
In the request, we sought records under the Pennsylvania Right to Know Law, 65 §66.1 et seq., specifically asking for information about the pre-election tests conducted on voting machines in an electronic format. We requested that these records include details such as the test date, machine manufacturer, machine model number, and the status of each machine – whether it passed or failed its respective test.
As a media organization, our role is to gather and report news to the public. Access to public records like these 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 will continue to keep you updated as we receive more information about this request from the Fayette County Election Department.
