A Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was submitted to the Idaho Elections Division on February 5, 2025. The request was made by Gem State Wire, a media organization committed to providing comprehensive and accurate news coverage on local governmental affairs.
In the request, Gem State Wire sought detailed information about all candidates running in the upcoming spring elections. The specifics requested included each candidate’s first, middle, and last name; the office they are running for; the jurisdiction of that office; and their party affiliation.
In addition to these details, Gem State Wire also requested contact information for each candidate. This includes their address, phone number, and email address.
As a media organization, we at Gem State Wire underscored our role in gathering and reporting news to the public. We emphasized that 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 expressed our belief that we are eligible for a fee waiver as a media professional. As always, we remain committed to bringing comprehensive and accurate news coverage on local governmental affairs to our readers.
