FOIA Request to New York Secretary of State – Elections Department Regarding Spring Elections Candidates for Office on February 6, 2025.
As part of our ongoing commitment to provide comprehensive and accurate news coverage on local governmental affairs, we at Empire State Today have sent a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request to the New York Secretary of State – Elections Department. The request was made under the New York Freedom of Information Law, N.Y. Pub. Off. Law sec. 84 et seq., and preferably in electronic format.
Our request includes a list of all candidates running for the upcoming spring elections. We asked for specific details about each candidate including their first, middle, and last names; the office they are running for; jurisdiction of the office; and party affiliation.
In addition to this, we have also requested contact information for each candidate which includes their address, phone number, and email address.
As media professionals involved in gathering and reporting 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 media professionals.
We will continue our efforts to bring transparency and accountability in local government affairs through diligent reporting. Stay tuned with Empire State Today for further updates on this matter.
