A Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was sent to the Huntingdon County Election Department regarding the upcoming spring election candidates on February 5, 2025. The request was made by Altoona Times, a media organization committed to providing comprehensive and accurate news coverage on local governmental affairs.
The FOIA request seeks detailed information about all candidates running in the forthcoming elections. Specifically, the request asks for each candidate's first, middle, and last names; the office they are running for; their jurisdiction; and their party affiliation.
In addition to these details, Altoona Times has also requested contact information for each candidate. This includes their address, phone number, and email address.
Altoona Times asserts that as a member of the media involved in gathering and reporting news to the public, access to such public records is essential in fulfilling its professional responsibilities. These responsibilities include holding public institutions accountable and providing transparency to the public. Given its role in disseminating information, Altoona Times believes it is eligible for a fee waiver as a media professional.
The Pennsylvania Right to Know Law underpins this request. This law allows citizens access to public records with certain exceptions and conditions. It's yet another tool that helps ensure government transparency at all levels within Pennsylvania.
As of now, there has been no response from the Huntingdon County Election Department regarding this FOIA request.
Alerts Sign-up