A Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was submitted to the Rhode Island Board of Elections regarding the upcoming spring elections candidates for office on February 5, 2025. The request was made by us at Ocean State Today, a media organization committed to providing comprehensive and accurate news coverage on local governmental affairs.
We are seeking a list of all candidates running in the forthcoming election under the Rhode Island Access to Public Records Act, ยง38-2-1 et seq. The information requested includes each candidate’s first, middle, and last names; the office they are running for; jurisdiction of the office; and their party affiliation.
In addition to this, we have also requested all contact information for each candidate. This includes their address, phone number, and email address.
As a media organization involved in gathering and reporting news to the public, 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. Given our role in disseminating information, we believe we are eligible for a fee waiver as a media professional.
We await response from the Rhode Island Board of Elections regarding this request.
