A Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was submitted to the Indiana County Election Department on October 30, 2024. The request was made by us at West Central PA News, a media organization dedicated to providing comprehensive and accurate news coverage on local governmental affairs.
The FOIA request specifically asked for the pre-election test reports of the voting machines used in the county’s elections. We requested these records under the Pennsylvania Right to Know Law, 65 §66.1 et seq., preferably in electronic format.
The details we sought in the report include the test date, machine manufacture, machine model number, and machine status indicating whether it passed or failed during testing. These details are crucial for understanding the reliability and integrity of the voting machines used in our elections.
As a media organization, we believe access to public records is essential for fulfilling our professional responsibilities. This includes holding public institutions accountable and providing transparency to the public. We have also requested a fee waiver as a media professional due to our role in disseminating information.
We await a response from the Indiana County Election Department regarding this FOIA request and will continue our commitment to providing comprehensive news coverage on local governmental affairs.
