A Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was submitted to the Clearfield County Election Department in Pennsylvania regarding pre-election voting machine test reports on October 30, 2024. The request was made by us at Happy Valley Times, a media organization dedicated to providing comprehensive and accurate news coverage on local governmental affairs.
In accordance with the Pennsylvania Right to Know Law, we requested electronic records of the pre-election test reports for election voting machines. Specifically, we sought documents in PDF format that include fields such as the test date, machine manufacturer, machine model number, and machine status (pass or fail).
As a media organization, our mission is to gather and report news to the public. Access to public records is vital for us to fulfill our professional responsibilities which include holding public institutions accountable and providing transparency to the public. In light of our role in disseminating information, we believe we are eligible for a fee waiver as a media professional.
We await a response from the Clearfield County Election Department and will continue to work towards promoting transparency in local government affairs.