REBECKA LACOURSE. ELECTIONS ADMINISTRATOR
In an era where transparency is top of mind, navigating how to access public information can feel daunting. When it comes to local elections, understanding how public records work is vital for commu- nity trust. Here is a simplified look at the rules of open records and how they apply to Colorado County elections:
There is No 'Central Hub' for Records. Many citizens assume that filing a single request with the county courthouse grants access to every piece of election data.
In Texas county government, each elected official acts as the independent Public Information Administrator for their specific department.
No department has authority or custody over another department's files. If you want specific voter registration re cords or local election data, your request must go directly to the specific elected official or department head holding those files.
You can reach out to Sharon Marsalia, County Judge Assistant, at 979 - 732-2604.
The Government Cannot Ask 'Why' You Want the Data. Under state law, gov- ernment officials are strictly prohibited from asking you for the purpose of your request.
You can voluntarily share if you think it will help locate a specific file, you are never re quired to do so.
Officials Cannot Create 'New' Reports for You. If you are looking for a highly specific, customized statistical breakdown of a past election that doesn't currently exist, the county cannot build it for you.
An Open Records request must strictly be for the inspection or copying of existing documents or records. By law, an agency is not required to generate a brand-new document or conduct custom data synthesis to fulfill a request.
A common misconcep -
tion is that requested files must be handed over imme -
diately or strictly on day 10.
The '10-Business-Day Rule' is a Response Window, Not a Delivery Guarantee.
State law provides a structured timeline for public agencies to respond to requests.
The law dictates that the county must officially respond within 10 business days, it does not require all documents to be delivered in that time frame.
If staff are actively using re- cords, if files are stored offsite, or if staff need time to locate extensive materials alongside their daily duties, the county will use those 10 business days to provide formal written notice specifying the date and time the records will be ready.
If data is legally protected, of- ficials will use that window to seek a ruling from the Texas Attorney General.
Large Requests May In - cur Processing & Copy Fees While looking at documents in person is generally free, larger data pulls or extensive paper copies incur standard, state-regulated fees set by the Texas Attorney General.
Small, routine requests rarely cost anything, but exten- sive requests requiring signifi cant staff time or physical copies may incur fees. Colorado County will provide a formal, itemized cost estimate before beginning work on any request where costs are expected to pass standard state thresholds.
Public information requests are governed under Texas Government Code, Chapter 552 (known as the Texas Public Information Act). Under this act, all government information is legally presumed to be available to the public, unless specific state laws or judicial exemptions apply like an open investigation or court order.
For information on how to submit a request or download a standard form, visit the Texas Attorney General's open government portal or https://www. co.colorado.tx.us/page/colorado. PublicInformationRequest.
