November 2, 2026 · 26 min · The Rotunda with Trimmel Gomes
The Rotunda with Trimmel Gomes
What Florida Voters Are Really Voting On
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What Florida Voters Are Really Voting On
Nov 2, 2026 • 00:26:39
The Rotunda returns for election week with two conversations. First, University of South Florida political science professor Susan MacManus, Distinguished University Professor Emerita, on what Florida’s early vote is really […]
Florida has some of the strongest open government laws in the country, if you know how to use them. This page collects the manuals, the laws in plain English, and the request tools you need to see what your government is doing, from city hall to Washington.
The Attorney General’s Government in the Sunshine Manual is the bible of Florida open government law, written for regular people and updated every year.
It’s long. Use the index: most questions are answered in the first 60 pages.
The Laws, Plainly
Florida’s open government promise rests on two chapters of state law.
Chapter 119: Public Records
Every record made or received by a public agency in connection with official business is a public record, with few exceptions.
You don’t have to give your name, explain why you want it, or put the request in writing.
Agencies must respond within a “reasonable” time — days, not months.
Inspecting records is free; copies can only cost the actual cost of duplication.
If a record mixes exempt and non-exempt information, the agency must redact only the exempt part and hand over the rest.
Chapter 286: Open Meetings
Any gathering of two or more members of the same board or commission to discuss public business is a meeting.
Meetings must be open to the public, with reasonable notice.
Minutes must be taken and made available.
Two commissioners texting about a vote? That’s a meeting.
Violations can void the action taken and carry criminal penalties.
File a Records Request
You don’t need a lawyer or a magic form. Keep it short, specific, and in writing so there’s a paper trail.
Name the records. “All emails between X and Y from June 1–30 about Z” beats “everything about Z.”
Send it to the custodian. Every agency has one; the clerk’s office is a safe default.
Ask for the format you want. Electronic records should come electronically.
Follow up in writing. If they stall, cite Chapter 119 and ask for a timeline.
Copy, paste, and customize this template:
Subject: Public Records Request — [brief description]
Dear Custodian of Records:
Pursuant to Article I, Section 24 of the Florida Constitution and Chapter 119, Florida Statutes, I request the following public records:
[Describe the records as specifically as possible, with dates and names]
If any portion is claimed exempt, please cite the specific statutory exemption and release the remaining non-exempt portions. Please provide responsive records electronically if available.
Thank you,
[Your name]
[Your contact]
Federal FOIA
For federal agencies, the Freedom of Information Act (1967) is your tool. Most states have their own versions; in Florida, that’s Chapter 119 above.
Find the right agency. Start at foia.gov to locate each agency’s FOIA office.
Describe the records. Be specific: offices, date ranges, subject lines.
Ask for a fee waiver. Journalists, nonprofits, and public-interest requesters often qualify.
Appeal denials. You have 90 days to appeal; if that fails, the ombudsman at archives.gov/ogis can help.
Transparency Tracker
October 2026: Florida agencies are taking longer to answer records requests, and more are demanding deposits before they start. We’re tracking response times and denial trends across the state.
Award-winning broadcaster, journalist, and media strategist covering the people and issues shaping Florida politics.
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