A Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was submitted to the Ionia County Election Division on October 30, 2024. The request was made by SE Grand Rapids News, a media organization dedicated to providing comprehensive and accurate news coverage on local governmental affairs.
In our quest for transparency and accountability in public institutions, we sought access to records pertaining to pre-election tests conducted on voting machines used in the county’s elections. The specific details requested include the test date, machine manufacturer, machine model number, and the status of each machine (whether it passed or failed).
We believe that these records are vital in our role as a media organization in informing the public about the integrity of voting machines used in their elections. We also emphasized our eligibility for a fee waiver as a media professional under the Michigan Freedom of Information Act § 15.231 et seq.
SE Grand Rapids News remains committed to holding public institutions accountable and providing transparency to the public through diligent reporting and investigation. We await a response from the Ionia County Election Division regarding this FOIA request.
