A Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was sent to the Ottawa County Election Division on February 5, 2025. The request was made by us at Holland Reporter, a media organization dedicated to providing comprehensive and accurate news coverage on local governmental affairs.
The FOIA request sought detailed information about all candidates running in the upcoming election. Specifically, we asked for the candidates' first, middle, and last names; the office they are running for; jurisdiction of the office; and their party affiliation.
In addition to this basic information, we also requested contact details for each candidate. This includes their address, phone number, and email address.
As a media organization, our mission is to gather and report news to the public. Access to public records is essential for us to fulfill our professional responsibilities. These 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 a response from the Ottawa County Election Division regarding this FOIA request.