A Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was sent to the Pike County Election Department on February 5, 2025. The request was made by North Pocono News, a media organization dedicated to providing comprehensive and accurate news coverage on local governmental affairs.
In the FOIA request, we at North Pocono News asked for records under the Pennsylvania Right to Know Law, 65 §66.1 et seq., specifically seeking a list of all candidates running in the upcoming election. We requested this information in an electronic format for ease of access and dissemination.
The details we sought about each candidate included their first, middle, and last names; the office they are running for; the jurisdiction of that office; and their party affiliation. Additionally, we asked for all available contact information for each candidate. This includes their address, phone number, and email address.
As a media organization, our role is to gather and report news to the public. Access to public records is crucial for us to fulfill our professional responsibilities which include holding public institutions accountable and providing transparency to the public. In line with this mission, we also expressed our belief that we are eligible for a fee waiver as a media professional due to our role in disseminating information.
We remain committed to providing comprehensive coverage of local governmental affairs and will continue to use tools like FOIA requests to ensure transparency and accountability in our reporting.
