Humidity Effects on Election Ballot Scanners/Tabulators (Environmental Protection Agency)

This message is to confirm your request submission to the FOIAonline application: View Request. Request information is as follows:
* Tracking Number: EPA-HQ-2019-005297
* Requester Name: Ms. Mackenzie Farkus
* Date Submitted: 04/26/2019
* Request Status: Submitted
* Description: To Whom It May Concern:

Pursuant to the Freedom of Information Act, I hereby request the following records:

During the past few elections, numerous states have had issues with humidity causing ballot scanners/tabulators to stop working (https://qz.com/1449303/midterms-2018-how-humidity-affects-voting-machines/). Scientists have indicated that with climate change, humidity will increase (https://e360.yale.edu/digest/global-warming-could-cause-dangerous-increases-in-humidity). Thus, I am requesting all materials on or related to the impact of climate change on elections and ballot processing due to humidity. Materials include, but are not limited to, the following:
•Emails from November 2018 to the present containing the keywords "ballot scanner," "ballot tabulator," "ballot," "humidity," "elections," and/or "climate change"
•Studies and/or reports on the impact of climate change on elections
•Any policy directives, guidance documents, memorandum, training materials, or similar records

The requested documents will be made available to the general public, and this request is not being made for commercial purposes.

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 20 business days, as the statute requires.

Sincerely,

Mackenzie Farkus

The FOIA request - EPA-HQ-2019-005297 description has been modified. Additional details for this item are as follows:
* Tracking Number: EPA-HQ-2019-005297
* Requester: Ms. Mackenzie Farkus
* Submitted Date: 04/26/2019
* Description: To Whom It May Concern:

Pursuant to the Freedom of Information Act, I hereby request the following records:

During the past few elections, numerous states have had issues with humidity causing ballot scanners/tabulators to stop working (https://qz.com/1449303/midterms-2018-how-humidity-affects-voting-machines/). Scientists have indicated that with climate change, humidity will increase (https://e360.yale.edu/digest/global-warming-could-cause-dangerous-increases-in-humidity). Thus, I am requesting all materials on or related to the impact of climate change on elections and ballot processing due to humidity. Materials include, but are not limited to, the following:
•Emails from November 2018 to the present containing the keywords "ballot scanner," "ballot tabulator," "ballot," "humidity," "elections," and/or "climate change"
•Studies and/or reports on the impact of climate change on elections
•Any policy directives, guidance documents, memorandum, training materials, or similar records

The requested documents will be made available to the general public, and this request is not being made for commercial purposes.

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 20 business days, as the statute requires.

Sincerely,

Mackenzie Farkus

Ms. Farkus,
Thank you for speaking with me today.  Per our conversation you are withdrawing this request.
Regards, Wendy Schumacher
202-566-2513

Your request for Fee Waiver for the FOIA request EPA-HQ-2019-005297 has been withdrawn by the requester. Additional details for this request are as follows:
* Request Created on: 04/26/2019
* Request Description: To Whom It May Concern:

Pursuant to the Freedom of Information Act, I hereby request the following records:

During the past few elections, numerous states have had issues with humidity causing ballot scanners/tabulators to stop working (https://qz.com/1449303/midterms-2018-how-humidity-affects-voting-machines/). Scientists have indicated that with climate change, humidity will increase (https://e360.yale.edu/digest/global-warming-could-cause-dangerous-increases-in-humidity). Thus, I am requesting all materials on or related to the impact of climate change on elections and ballot processing due to humidity. Materials include, but are not limited to, the following:
•Emails from November 2018 to the present containing the keywords "ballot scanner," "ballot tabulator," "ballot," "humidity," "elections," and/or "climate change"
•Studies and/or reports on the impact of climate change on elections
•Any policy directives, guidance documents, memorandum, training materials, or similar records

The requested documents will be made available to the general public, and this request is not being made for commercial purposes.

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 20 business days, as the statute requires.

Sincerely,

Mackenzie Farkus
* Fee Waiver Original Justification: I am a member of the media and request designation as such. I'm a reporter for MuckRock News, a journalism nonprofit based in Boston, MA. You can view my work here: https://www.muckrock.com/news/archives/?authors=20889
* Fee Waiver Disposition Reason: N/A

EPA-HQ-2019-005297 has been processed with the following final disposition: Request Withdrawn

Per our conversation.