A Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was sent to the Mississippi Secretary of State - Elections Department on February 5, 2025. The request was made by us at Magnolia State News, a media organization committed to providing comprehensive and accurate news coverage on local governmental affairs.
The FOIA request specifically asked for records under the Mississippi Public Records Act § 25-61-1 et seq., in electronic format if possible. We requested a list of all candidates running in the upcoming spring elections. This includes their first, middle, and last names; the office they are running for; the jurisdiction of that office; and their party affiliation.
In addition to this information, we also requested contact details for each candidate. This encompasses their address, phone number, and email address.
As a media organization dedicated to transparency and accountability in public institutions, access to these public records is crucial for our work. We believe that as members of the media engaged in gathering and reporting news to the public, we should be eligible for a fee waiver as media professionals.
We are awaiting a response from the Mississippi Secretary of State - Elections Department regarding our request.
Alerts Sign-up