A Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was sent to the Northumberland County Election Department regarding details of candidates running in the upcoming election. The request was made on February 5, 2025.
As part of our commitment to providing comprehensive and accurate news coverage on local governmental affairs at North Central PA Times, we have requested these records under the Pennsylvania Right to Know Law, 65 §66.1 et seq. We specifically asked for an electronic format list of all candidates that are running for this upcoming election.
The information requested includes each candidate's first, middle, and last name, the office they are running for, the jurisdiction of the office, and their party affiliation. Additionally, we have asked for all contact information for each candidate including their address, phone number, and email address.
We believe 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. As a media organization involved in gathering and reporting news to the public, we also stated our eligibility for a fee waiver as a media professional.
The Northumberland County Election Department has yet to respond to our request.