A Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was sent to the Coles County Election Division in Illinois on February 5, 2025. The request was made by us at East Central Reporter, a media organization committed to providing comprehensive and accurate news coverage on local governmental affairs.
The information requested pertains to the upcoming spring elections in Illinois. Specifically, we asked for a list of all candidates running for office. The details requested for each candidate include their first, middle, and last names; the office they are running for; the jurisdiction of that office; and their party affiliation.
In addition to these basic details about each candidate's campaign, we also requested contact information for each individual. This includes their address, phone number, and email address.
As members of the media, we believe access to public records is essential in fulfilling our professional responsibilities. These responsibilities include holding public institutions accountable and providing transparency to the public. Given our role in disseminating information, we have requested a fee waiver as media professionals.
We await a response from the Coles County Election Division regarding this request.
Alerts Sign-up