A Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was submitted to the Surry County Election Department in North Carolina on February 5, 2025. The request was made by Yadkin Valley News, a media organization committed to providing comprehensive and accurate news coverage on local governmental affairs.
In our pursuit of transparency and accountability in public institutions, we requested specific records under the North Carolina Public Records Law, G.S. §132-1. We asked for a list of all candidates running in the upcoming election, preferably in an electronic format.
The information we sought includes each candidate’s first, middle, and last names; the office they are running for; the jurisdiction of that office; and their party affiliation. Additionally, we requested all contact information for each candidate such as their address, phone number, and email address.
As members of the media dedicated to gathering and reporting news to the public, access to these public records is essential for us at Yadkin Valley News to fulfill our professional responsibilities. Given our role in disseminating information to the public, we believe we are eligible for a fee waiver as media professionals.
We remain committed to holding public institutions accountable and providing transparency to the public through our journalistic endeavors.
