A Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was submitted to Alabama Votes concerning the candidates running in the upcoming spring elections. The request was made on February 6, 2025.
As a media organization committed to providing comprehensive and accurate news coverage on local governmental affairs, we at River Region Times requested records under the Alabama Open Records Law § 36-12-40 et seq. Our request included a list of all candidates running in the forthcoming election. We asked for this information to be provided in an electronic format.
Specifically, we requested details such as the candidate’s first, middle, and last names. We also asked for information about the office they are running for and its jurisdiction. Furthermore, we sought details about each candidate’s party affiliation.
In addition to these basic details about each candidate and their campaign, we also requested contact information for each individual. This includes their address, phone number, and email address.
As a member of the media organization River Region Times, our role involves gathering and reporting news to the public. Access to public records is essential for us to fulfill our professional responsibilities which include holding public institutions accountable and providing transparency to the public. Given our role in disseminating information, we believe we are eligible for a fee waiver as a media professional.
We await Alabama Votes’ response to our request and will continue striving towards our commitment of delivering comprehensive and accurate news coverage on local governmental affairs.
