A Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was sent to the Randolph County Election Department on February 5, 2025. The request, made by us at Randolph County News, seeks comprehensive information about all candidates running in the upcoming spring election.
In line with our commitment to providing accurate and comprehensive news coverage on local governmental affairs, we requested records under the North Carolina Public Records Law, G.S. §132-1. We have asked for this information preferably in an electronic format for ease of access and dissemination.
The specific details requested include the first, middle, and last names of all candidates. Additionally, we asked for the office each candidate is running for and its jurisdiction. The party affiliation of each candidate was also requested as part of this inquiry.
To ensure transparency and accountability in our reporting, we also sought contact information for each candidate. This includes their address, phone number, and email address.
As a media organization involved in gathering and reporting news to the public, access to public records 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 to the community, we believe we are eligible for a fee waiver as a media professional under FOIA provisions.
We await a response from the Randolph County Election Department and will continue our pursuit of transparent reporting on local government affairs.
