Recount policies/procedures/costs (Office of the Attorney General - Maine)

Dear Ms. Lipton,

This is to acknowledge receipt of your request (copied below) pursuant to the Maine Freedom of Access Act ("FOAA") for policies, procedures, etc. regarding election recounts. The agency in Maine that has jurisdiction over election recounts is the Secretary of State, not the Attorney General's office. Accordingly, I have referred your FOAA request to that office, and you should be hearing back from Kristen Muszynski.

Sincerely,

Phyllis Gardiner
Assistant Attorney General
6 State House Station
Augusta, Maine 04333-0006
(207) 626-8830
phyllis.gardiner@maine.gov<mailto:phyllis.gardiner@maine.gov>

December 6, 2016
Office of the Attorney General - Maine
Office of the Attorney General
Public Access Ombudsman
6 State House Station
Augusta, Maine 04333

To Whom It May Concern:

Pursuant to the Maine Freedom of Access Act ("FOAA"), I hereby request the following records:

Any and all policies and procedures regarding the recount of federal, state, or local ballot initiatives, including all materials regarding the following specific points:

* All policies and procedures regarding the initiation of a request to recount votes regarding a particular candidate position or ballot initiative
* All policies and procedures regarding the technical, practical measures for execution of a recount
* All policies, procedures, and considerations regarding the cost and budget of an execution of a recount
* All policies and procedures regarding the tallying and reporting of a vote recount

Please provide relevant procedures for jurisdictions under this agency.

I also request that, if appropriate, fees be waived as we believe this request is in the public interest, as suggested but not stipulated by 1 M.R.S.A. § 408(6). The requested documents will be made available to the general public free of charge as part of the public information service at MuckRock.com, processed by a representative of the news media/press and is made in the process of news gathering and not for commercial usage.

In the event that there are fees, I would be grateful if you would inform me of the total charges in advance of fulfilling my request. I would prefer the request filled electronically, by e-mail attachment if available or CD-ROM if not.

Thank you in advance for your anticipated cooperation in this matter. I look forward to receiving your response to this request within 5 business days, as the statute requires.

Sincerely,

Beryl Lipton

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Filed via MuckRock.com
E-mail (Preferred): requests@muckrock.com<mailto:requests@muckrock.com>

For mailed responses, please address (see note):
MuckRock
DEPT MR 30542
411A Highland Ave
Somerville, MA 02144-2516
PLEASE NOTE: This request was filed by a MuckRock staff reporter. Also note that improperly addressed (i.e., with the requester's name rather than "MuckRock News" and the department number) requests might be returned as undeliverable.

Ms. Lipton:
In response to your Freedom of Access Act request of Dec. 6, attached are the responsive documents as regards recount laws and rules. We do not have cost figures at this time.
Please let me know if you have any further questions or concerns.

Sincerely,

Kristen Schulze Muszynski
Director of Communications/ FOAA Coordinator
Department of the Secretary of State
148 State House Station
Augusta, ME 04333
Office: 207-626-8404
Cell: 207-441-7638

December 6, 2016
Office of the Attorney General - Maine
Office of the Attorney General
Public Access Ombudsman
6 State House Station
Augusta, Maine 04333

To Whom It May Concern:

Pursuant to the Maine Freedom of Access Act ("FOAA"), I hereby request the following records:

Any and all policies and procedures regarding the recount of federal, state, or local ballot initiatives, including all materials regarding the following specific points:

* All policies and procedures regarding the initiation of a request to recount votes regarding a particular candidate position or ballot initiative
* All policies and procedures regarding the technical, practical measures for execution of a recount
* All policies, procedures, and considerations regarding the cost and budget of an execution of a recount
* All policies and procedures regarding the tallying and reporting of a vote recount

Please provide relevant procedures for jurisdictions under this agency.

I also request that, if appropriate, fees be waived as we believe this request is in the public interest, as suggested but not stipulated by 1 M.R.S.A. § 408(6). The requested documents will be made available to the general public free of charge as part of the public information service at MuckRock.com, processed by a representative of the news media/press and is made in the process of news gathering and not for commercial usage.

In the event that there are fees, I would be grateful if you would inform me of the total charges in advance of fulfilling my request. I would prefer the request filled electronically, by e-mail attachment if available or CD-ROM if not.

Thank you in advance for your anticipated cooperation in this matter. I look forward to receiving your response to this request within 5 business days, as the statute requires.

Sincerely,

Beryl Lipton

------
Filed via MuckRock.com
E-mail (Preferred): requests@muckrock.com<mailto:requests@muckrock.com>

For mailed responses, please address (see note):
MuckRock
DEPT MR 30542
411A Highland Ave
Somerville, MA 02144-2516

PLEASE NOTE: This request was filed by a MuckRock staff reporter. Also note that improperly addressed (i.e., with the requester's name rather than "MuckRock News" and the department number) requests might be returned as undeliverable.
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