A Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was sent to Pinal County in Arizona on September 25, 2024, by the Grand Canyon Times. The media organization requested comprehensive information regarding ballots mailed for AEVL voters, early voting, overseas and military voters, and others for the current election cycle.
The detailed request includes a wide range of data points related to voter registration and ballot status. These include registrant ID, VRAZ Voter ID, registration date, date added to voter list, effective date of change, date of birth or age of the voter, full name including any suffixes, registration status and reason for such status.
In addition to these details about individual voters' profiles and their registration statuses, the Grand Canyon Times also requested information about the geographic location of voters including their county and precinct as well as contact details like address, city, state, phone number and email address.
Party affiliation is another important piece of information requested along with AEVL status. Details about the ballot itself such as ballot ID, election date for ballots sent out and type of election were also included in the request. Furthermore, specifics about how each ballot was requested (absentee, mail-in etc.), when it was requested and returned were asked for.
The Grand Canyon Times emphasized its role in providing transparency to the public through comprehensive news coverage on local governmental affairs. It highlighted that access to public records is essential in fulfilling its professional responsibilities which include holding public institutions accountable. Given this role in disseminating information to the public, it believes it is eligible for a fee waiver as a media professional.
This request represents an ongoing effort by media organizations like Grand Canyon Times to ensure transparency during elections by keeping track of ballots mailed out during election cycles.
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