A Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was sent to the Buncombe County Election Department in North Carolina on February 5, 2025. The request, made by Asheville Reporter, a media organization dedicated to comprehensive and accurate news coverage on local governmental affairs, seeks detailed information about candidates running in the upcoming spring election.
The Asheville Reporter is seeking access to public records under the North Carolina Public Records Law, G.S. §132-1. The requested records include a list of all candidates vying for various offices in the upcoming election. Specifically, the Asheville Reporter has asked for each candidate's first, middle and last names; the office they are running for; jurisdiction of the office; party affiliation; and contact information including address, phone number and email address.
As a media organization, we at Asheville Reporter believe that access to public records is crucial for our work in gathering and reporting news to the public. It enables us to fulfill our professional responsibilities which include holding public institutions accountable and providing transparency to the public. We have requested a fee waiver as a media professional based on our role in disseminating information.
The Buncombe County Election Department has yet to respond to this request. As always, we remain committed to bringing you comprehensive coverage of local government affairs.
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