Pursuant to Florida’s Public Records Law, the Walton County Supervisor of Elections provides access to public records in its custody at any reasonable time, under reasonable conditions, and under supervision by the custodian of public records or the custodian’s designee, except as otherwise provided by law.
The office will take reasonable measures to safeguard public records from alteration and to prevent the disclosure of information that is confidential or exempt from public disclosure.
Custodian: Ryan Messer
Exemptions and Confidential Information
Federal and state laws make certain information confidential or exempt from public disclosure. When a requested record contains confidential or exempt information, that information will be redacted or withheld as required by law.
Examples of information that may be confidential, exempt, or otherwise restricted from public disclosure include:
- Voters’ driver’s license numbers, state identification card numbers, and Social Security numbers
- Certain information concerning preregistered voters
- Certain voter registration source information
- Certain identification and location information of persons entitled to public records exemptions under Florida law
- Certain information related to critical infrastructure
- Certain cybersecurity records, network schematics, and hardware or software configuration information
- Trade secrets held by an agency
- Voter signatures, which are subject to statutory restrictions on copying
- Vote-by-Mail ballot request information, which may be provided only to persons or entities authorized by law and subject to applicable statutory requirements
Florida law also allows certain persons to request that specified information contained in agency records be protected from public disclosure. For additional information, please visit the Voter Information as a Public Record page on the Florida Division of Elections website.
Requesting Records
Requests to inspect or copy public records in the custody of the Supervisor of Elections may be submitted to the records custodian, located in the Walton County Supervisor of Elections office located in the Walton County Courthouse at 571 US Hwy 90 East, Suite 102, DeFuniak Springs, Florida 32433, by phone at 850-892-8112, or by email to [email protected].
Fees and Service Charges
Fees for public records are assessed in accordance with Section 119.07, Florida Statutes, and other applicable law.
When a request does not require extensive use of information technology resources or extensive clerical or supervisory assistance, the office generally provides up to the first 15 minutes of staff time without a service charge. Applicable duplication or other charges authorized by law may still apply.
When the nature or volume of a request requires extensive use of information technology resources or extensive clerical or supervisory assistance, or both, Section 119.07(4)(d), Florida Statutes, authorizes the office to assess a reasonable service charge based on the costs actually incurred.
Time subject to a service charge may include the time reasonably necessary to identify responsive records; locate, retrieve, and compile records; review records for confidential or exempt information; make necessary redactions; prepare records for production; and supervise or otherwise safeguard records during inspection.
For requests expected to require an extensive service charge, the office will provide a good-faith estimate based on the information reasonably available at the time of the estimate. Because the full scope and volume of responsive records may not be known until work is undertaken, the actual time and cost may be higher or lower than the estimate.
Payment by cash or check of the full estimated amount is required before work begins. Checks should be made payable to Walton County Supervisor of Elections.
If it becomes apparent that the actual cost will materially exceed the estimate, work will be paused and the requestor will be notified of the revised estimate before work proceeds that would result in a material increase. Payment of any additional estimated amount is required before work resumes. If the actual cost is less than the amount paid, the difference will be refunded.
If we do not receive a response within 30 days after an estimate is provided, the request will be considered inactive and may be closed.
Processing of Requests
Public records requests will be acknowledged and processed within a reasonable time based on the nature and scope of the request, the volume and accessibility of responsive records, the need to review records for confidential or exempt information, and other circumstances affecting the time reasonably necessary to fulfill the request.
Large or complex requests, particularly those received during periods of significant activity, may require additional time to complete.
Delivery of Electronic Records
Electronic records may be provided by email or through a secure share site. Records provided through a share site will generally remain available for download for 7 days after the link is provided.
If records are requested in another available format or by another method of delivery, applicable charges may apply.