Prior to the mid 1960's, government would keep data on people but refused to let any information out as to what type of information they were storing on you.  The Freedom of Information Act, established around 1966 or so, was instituted by Congress and passed.  The states soon followed in suit.

The Freedom of Information Act (labeled as FOIA) allows you to get information from government.

As technology became incorporated into the workplace, especially in government, the procurement of information took different form.  Again, the ones to lead the way was the Federal government.

Here is an excerpt from the Federal Communications Commission:

The Electronic Freedom of Information Act Amendments of 1996 expanded the scope of the FOIA to encompass electronic records and require the creation of "electronic reading rooms" to make records more easily and widely available to the public. Most recently in December 2005, Executive Order 13392, "Improving Agency Disclosure of Information," reaffirmed that FOIA "has provided an important means through which the public can obtain information regarding the activities of Federal agencies" and required Federal agencies to make their FOIA programs "citizen-centered and results-oriented."

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After every election, Wayne files a FOIA with the Board of Election Commissioners ("BOEC") to get certain pieces of information regarding an election.

When Carothers ran against Floyd Thomas, he won by the absentee vote.  A FOIA was filed and paperwork was received from the Board of Election Commissioners in Chicago.  The analysis showed that 98% of the applications had errors.  The Board has since refused to give Wayne a copy of any of this information.

We feel that the Board of Election Commissioners is wrong in their approach and potentially in violation of 42 Federal Code.  Anyone who is desirous of reviewing how the board computed their vote totals should be able to but without information regarding absentee vote, it is virtually impossible to do so.

The Board is flat out wrong in its decision not to hand over any of these applications.

Why even bother asking for information?  Read this.

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Illinois Version of the Freedom of Information Act view.

To download your personal copy right click on the "view" and then choose "Save Target As"